Your future, our focus
Second-Half Rallies Lift Team to 3-0 Start
The Northwest College women’s basketball team surged out of the blocks to record a 3-0 start as the regular season began last week. The Trappers defeated the Rocky Mountain College JV squad at home on Wednesday before heading on the road for wins against Lake Region and Williston State.
“Any time you can go on the road and get two wins, that’s a good successful trip,” said Trapper women’s basketball coach Janis Beal. “We had to fight back in both games and it was good to see the girls not give in and keep battling. Hopefully this early success in close games will pay some dividends down the road.”
In Wednesday’s opener, the Trappers scored seven of the final nine points in the first half to carry a 44-37 lead into intermission. It was the first significant lead of the game by either squad. A 10-0 run that began six minutes into the second half pushed the Trapper lead as high as 17 points. Rocky Mountain was never able to trim the gap back into single digits thereafter.
Kennedy Allen led a parade of four Trapper scorers in double figures with 27 points.
Against Lake Region, the Trappers held an eight point lead at halftime, but then watched as Lake recovered to go up by as many as seven in the second half. Northwest regained form though to grab the lead late and stave off Lake Region with timely free throw shooting for a 72-69 win.
“We just started the second half slow,” Beal said. “It was one of those things where we were up and then you looked and we were behind and having to focus and come back.”
Mariah Duran finished with a game-best 19 points. Her 3-point accuracy early helped the Trappers get out to their first-half cushion.
In Saturday’s game, Northwest trailed at halftime, 38-34. It was the first time this season the Trappers had stared at a deficit at intermission.
Things got worse in the early going as Williston stretched its lead as high as 11 points before the Trappers fought back
“Saige Hartman did a great job coming off the bench for us after not being able to play against Rocky,” said Beal. “Williston had a couple taller post players, so we needed her out there.”
Another player Beal singled out for her contribution to the rally was Meagan Butler.
“She’s not really a scorer in our offense necessarily,” said Beal. “But that second half, she did a great job of taking the shots and hitting them when they were giving them to her.”
Hartman and Butler finished with 10 and 12 points, respectively. The Trappers were led by Allen’s 15 points.
Northwest travels to Salt Lake City this week. The team plays Eastern Utah on Thursday, Salt Lake on Friday and Snow College on Saturday.
NWC 81, ROCKY JV 68
Butler 8, Allen 27, de Souza 13, Ryan 8, Duran 10, Minder 10, Thronburg 5.
NWC 72, LAKE REGION 69
Minder 8, Butler 2, Allen 10, Hartman 8, de Souza 13, Ryan 6, Thronburg 6, Duran 19.
NWC 74, WILLISTON 70
Minder 4, Butler 12, Allen 15, Hartman 10, de Souza 8, Ryan 9, Thronburg 2, Duran 14.