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Win Over Dawson Moves Team To 11-10
The Northwest College Trappers snapped a four-game skid in women’s basketball with a 54-44 win at Dawson Community College last Thursday. The win came one night after the team fell by a 78-68 count at Gillette College.
The Trappers are now 11-10 overall and 3-5 in Region IX North play. The team sits in sixth place in the Region IX North standings, two games behind Western Wyoming, Miles Community College and Gillette.
“It was good to get the win and get over the losing streak,” said Janis Beal. “This should give us a little confidence as we go forward.”
Defense was the key to the Trappers’ win. Northwest held Dawson to just 28 percent shooting for the night. The Trappers also forced 20 turnovers. Combined, the two stats helped Northwest cover for a 10-minute dry spell in which the team failed to score a point.
“For about the last six minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half, we did not score,” Beal said.
In spite of that, Northwest led 27-25 at intermission. The team never trailed in the second half, but needed a 13-for-15 performance at the free throw line in the final minutes to seal the win.
“We played some great team defense,” said Beal. “It wasn’t one or two players, it was everyone on the floor doing what they were supposed to and rotating when we needed it.”
Mariah Duran scored 18 points to lead all scorers in the game. Taylor Ryan added 14 points as Northwest College played the game without the services of one of its leading scorers, Kennedy Allen, who suffered an ankle injury the previous night.
“We had some kids playing out of position for us and playing in spots or taking on roles or extra minutes they don’t usually see,” Beal said. “We had some kids who stepped up.”
Against Gillette, the Trappers trailed by five at the half, but managed to stay within striking distance until late in the game. Northwest was within two points with two minutes to play before an accurate display of free throws from Gillette College clinched the outcome.
“It was the opposite of the Dawson game,” Beal explained. “This time it was Gillette that hit the shots at the end. Overall, I thought we played hard. It was a difficult game to really get into a flow of due to the fouls being called both ways.”
The Trappers and Gillette combined to be whistled for 50 fouls in the contest. The total was split nearly evenly between the two teams.
“That took away some of the physicality of our defense,” Beal said. “More than anything though, it just made it difficult for either team to really find a rhythm for very long.”
Duran and Allen each had 18 points to share team-high honors for Northwest. Layana de Souza added 12 points.
“It was good to see Mariah Duran get going and score 18 points each night for us,” said Beal.
The Trappers host Central Wyoming on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Northwest travels to Sheridan on Saturday for a showdown with the Generals. Game time in that contest is 3 p.m.
NORTHWEST 54, DAWSON 44
Savannah Minder 5, Meagan Butler 7, Saige Hartman 4, Layana de Souza 1, Taylor Ryan 14, Mariah Duran 18, Leslie Blackburn 5.
GILLETTE 78, NORTHWEST 68
Savannah Minder 4, Kennedy Allen 18, Saige Hartman 2, Brecka Carrizales 3, Leslie Blackburn 2, Layana de Souza 12, Taylor Ryan 6, Leslie Thronburg 3, Mariah Duran 18.