EWC women allow rivals to rally

Erick Starkey
Posted 2/7/18

The Eastern Wyoming College Lady Lancers held a halftime lead Thursday over Western Nebraska Community College, but let that slip in a 92-81 loss in a game with four ties and 13 lead changes.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

EWC women allow rivals to rally

Posted

TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College Lady Lancers held a halftime lead Thursday over Western Nebraska Community College, but let that slip in a 92-81 loss in a game with four ties and 13 lead changes.

An early bucket by Lauren O’Connell put the Lady Lancers up 9-8 and after a lead change, a three by O’Connell gave EWC a 16-14 lead. Ines Salat Margarit closed out the quarter with a free throw to put the home team up 23-19.

In the second quarter, EWC grew its lead to six points (29-23), but WNCC quickly erased that lead. A pair of freebies knotted the score at 33 with 3:28 to go before halftime. The Lady Lancers went on another run, with free throws by Abril Rexach Roure putting EWC up 41-36. By halftime, EWC led 41-38.

Thirty points by the Lady Cougars in the third quarter proved to be the difference. There were nine lead changes within the first four minutes of the third quarter before WNCC built a five-point lead. EWC cut the lead to one point (56-55), but the Lady Cougars ended the quarter on a 12-1 run to take a 68-56 lead.

WNCC took their lead to 16 points early in the fourth and despite EWC outscoring the visitors 25-24 in the final 10 minutes of action, the Lady Cougars held on for the 92-81 win.

Rexach led the Lady Lancers with 22 points, including six from both behind the arc and the charity stripe. She notched four boards and two assists in the loss. O’Connell was just behind in the scoring department with 21 points, with nine from deep. O’Connell rounded out her stat line with six boards, an assist and a steal.

Pamela Bethel recorded yet another double-double, finishing the night with 17 points and 20 rebounds, including four on offense. She also had an assist, two blocks and two steals. Margarit, who came off the bench, was the final Lady Lancer in double-figures, tallying 10 points, four boards, three assists and a steal.

Macie Mackey and Nicole Cutler rounded out the starters, combining for eight points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. Ijeoma Adaora Ezikeolisa and Cathlyn Knutson came off the bench and combined to contribute three points, seven rebounds, a block and a steal.

EWC 89, NJC 80

The Lady Lancers fell behind early on the road Monday against the Lady Plainsmen, facing a 25-17 deficit after the first frame. EWC turned things around in the second, putting up 27 points and limiting NJC to 19, sending the game to halftime with the score tied at 44. Both teams put up 19 points in the third quarter to keep the game tied heading into the final 10 minutes of action. In the fourth, EWC took the game over, pouring in 26 points and keeping NJC to 17 to snag the road win.

Bethel had another full stat line, turning in 26 points. She shot perfect on the night, going 10-of-10 from the floor including 2-of-2 from behind the arc. The sophomore also hit all eight of her free throws. Rounding out her stat line, Bethel turned in 10 boards and three steals.

O’Connell was just behind Bethel in the scoring department, accounting for 25 points, including nine from three-point land and eight from the charity stripe. She also had three rebounds, four assists and two steals in the win. Cutler rounded out the Lady Lancers in double-figures with 19 points and five rebounds.

Rexach racked up seven points, two boards, seven assists and a steal, while Mackey chipped in four points.

Emily Buchanan came off the bench and tallied seven points, while Raff and Margarit combined for one point, two rebounds and three assists.

EWC upped their record to 14-10 on the year. The Lady Lancers hit the road Wednesday against Laramie County Community College at 5 p.m. They also take on Trinidad State Junior College on the road Saturday with a 2 p.m. tipoff.