TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Lady Lancers basketball team punched in its sixth consecutive season win with a 67-59 victory against the North Platte Community College (NPCC) Lady Knights at home on Friday, December 6.

EWC found itself ahead by double-digits, 24-12, midway into the second quarter and the Lady Lancers led by eight at halftime, 34-26.

The second half turned into a point-for-point battle. EWC prevented an attempt by NPCC to close the gap in the third and fourth quarters and the Lady Lancers remained up by several possessions until the final buzzer sounded.

On Saturday, EWC fell in a tough game against McCook Community College, 62-40.

NPCC

NPCC scored first with a jumper. EWC sophomore Nikolina Vukcevic promptly answered back with a 3-pointer and the Lady Lancers took control of the scoreboard, 3-2.

EWC steadily widened its lead with layups by freshman Yaiza Paredes and sophomore Leamsi Acuna. The Lady Lancers pulled ahead by eight points, 10-2, when Acuna netted a trey.

Sophomore Aliya Tripp snatched a steal and went on to toss in a jumper and go 2-for-2 at the charity stripe.

Freshman Ariadna Martinez followed up with a free throw. Sophomore Josephine Vourliotis took possession and scored from outside the perimeter.

Freshman Lucy Devoy rounded out scoring for EWC in the opening 10 minutes of the game with a free throw and the Lady Lancers ended the first quarter ahead, 19-10.

Sophomore Boden Liljedahl commenced the second quarter with a deep 3-pointer. A layup from sophomore Tawny Rodriguez placed the Lady Lancers up by double NPCC’s point count, 24-12.

EWC maintained the lead with buckets by Vukcevic and Paredes and a reverse layup from Paredes. Martinez converted an and-1 and the Lady Lancers pulled ahead, 34-26, at halftime.

NPCC outscored EWC by one point, 20-19, in a neck-and-neck third quarter. Tripp scored on a fastbreak, sank a 3-pointer and went 4-for-4 at the free-throw line. Vukcevic tossed in a close-range shot and pair of free throws while Paredes netted her first outside shot.

EWC remained ahead, 53-46, at the close of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, NPCC edged up with a 3-pointer to make it a two-possession game, 55-51, with 7:32 remaining on the clock.

Freshman Rhia Saggar replied with a jumper and Paredes scored her second 3-pointer, placing EWC up by nine, 60-51. A layup by Tripp widened the Lady Lancers’ lead to 11 points, 66-55.

NPCC attempted to score a buzzer beater, but the shot bounced off the board. Acuna rebounded the ball and EWC ended the game in possession.

Tripp led the Lady Lancers in scoring against NPCC with 17 points. Paredes netted 13 points, Acuna 11, Vukcevic nine, Martinez five, Liljedahl four, Vourliotis three, Saggar and Rodriguez two apiece with one by Devoy.

Saggar set the pace on the boards with eight rebounds. Tripp and Paredes both shared the ball for four assists and grabbed four steals apiece.

McCook stats

Paredes set the pace for the EWC offense with 10 points. Vourliotis contributed eight points, Acuna and Martinez six each, Liljedahl five, Saggar three and Vukcevic two.

Paredes led on the boards with 10 rebounds. Tripp tallied three assists and Acuna picked up four steals.