NWC News Desk

Lady Trappers fall short in Riverton

NWC Goes 1-1 Over The Weekend

For the second straight game, the Northwest College women’s basketball team tried to rally in the second half. 

And for the second straight time, the Lady Trappers came up short. 

NWC found itself down seven at halftime, but cut Region IX opponent Central Wyoming College’s lead to three with nine seconds to go. But Kayla Cheney was unable to get her last-second shot to go, and the Trappers fell 55-52 in Riverton. 

“It just comes down to, I felt like in the first half especially, like the last game, they were tougher than us. They wanted it more,” Trappers head coach Janis Beal said. “We didn’t get that sense of urgency until the second half, and we have to have that urgency from the tip-off.” 

Tuesday’s deficit wasn’t as daunting as NWC’s 13-point halftime hole against Miles Community College on Saturday, but Central’s 31-24 cushion was enough to again put the Trappers on their heels. 

In the final seconds, CWC (13- 6, 4-1 Region IX) knocked down a 2-pointer to make it a five-point edge, but the Trappers’ Caitlin Clancy answered with a pair of free throws. The Rustlers then missed a free throw and NWC collected the rebound with nine seconds remaining. But Cheney was defended heavily with the ball in her hands, and her shot was deflected as the game clock went to zeroes. 

Beal said it was unfortunate her team was in that situation, and hopes the Trappers can find ways to build leads, not deficits, before halftime. 

“We need to create some excitement on the floor and from on the bench early on,” she said and added that losing two close region games is tough. “It’s frustrating, but I think we need to focus on getting better one day at a time.” 

Hatti Snyder paced the Trappers with 15 points to go with eight rebounds. Clancy finished with 13 points. Central’s Stephanie Smith paced all scorers with 19 points. 

NWC is now 2-3 in Region IX play this season, and 10-11 overall. The Trappers continue their region schedule with a home showdown against Casper College (14-5, 6-0 Region IX) on Friday at Cabre Gym in Powell.

“They have some size inside, and they have some kids that can shoot, too,” Beal said of Casper. “So we’re going to have to talk about those little things like not turning the ball over and knocking down free throws when we get the chance.” 

MILES COMMUNITY COLLEGE 76, NORTHWEST COLLEGE 71 

Prior to Tuesday’s action, it appeared an extra day off did more harm than good for the Northwest College women’s basketball team. 

Scheduled to take on Little Big Horn College on Saturday, NWC was rewarded a victory when the Rams forfeited the Region IX contest. Little Big Horn started its season with a small roster, and after recent injuries and academic issues, only four Rams were eligible to play.

That gave the Lady Trappers six days of rest after their last game, a victory over Gillette College, on Jan. 10. 

The extra time off seemed to cool NWC’s momentum on Saturday, as it traveled to Miles City, Mont., and couldn’t get anything going in the first half of a Region IX matchup with Miles Community College. 

Miles CC built a 37-24 halftime lead, a cushion that at one point in the first 20 minutes of play had ballooned to 20. NWC found its offense in the second half, led by a surge from sophomore Dana Bjorhus, who finished with 17 points. The Trappers outscored MCC 47-39 in the first half, but it wasn’t enough to dig themselves out of their first-half hole. 

“We turned it on in the second half, but we needed to match that physicality in the first half and we didn’t,” Beal said. “I’m pleased that we didn’t give up, and that we fought back in the second half, but Miles wanted it more that day.” 

On paper, NWC held its own against the Rams. The Trappers converted one more field goal than MCC, matched the hosts with seven 3-pointers, barely lost the rebound battle (41-39), blocked five more shots and committed two less turnovers.

But a problem that has plagued NWC all season infected the team once again. 

“The free throws stand out as a big discrepancy between us and Miles,” Beal said after her team went 14-of-23 from the charity stripe. “That has been an issue all season long, and if we make a few more of those, maybe we win this game.”

NWC shot just 39.7 percent for the game (25-of-63). Snyder (eight rebounds) and Clancy (five assists) each scored nine points for the Trappers. Miles CC’s Jaycin Tini had a game-high 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

 

Contact

Tim Carpenter
Tim.Carpenter@nwc.edu
Communications/Web & Social Media Specialist
307-754-6009