TORRINGTON – A tenacious, point-for-point battle by the Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Lady Lancers against the Northeastern Junior College (NEJC) Lady Plainsmen resulted in a 59-59 tie at the end of regulation during the January 8 home game.

NEJC went on a 7-point run in the first two minutes of the overtime period. While EWC came within one point of overtaking the Lady Plainsmen midway into the overtime period, NEJC regained the initiative with a 6-point run and went on to post a 76-68 win.

The first quarter between the Lady Lancers and Lady Plainsmen ended with Northeastern ahead by a single possession, 17-15. Sophomore Josephine Vourliotis led the EWC offense in the first 10 minutes of regulation with seven points.

Viorliotis opened the second quarter with a pair of outside shots to place the Lady Lancers ahead by one point, 23-22. NEJC responded with a bucket and a point-for-point battle ensued with the lead switching hands possession by possession.

NEJC led by three, 33-30, with one minute remaining in the first half. A close-range shot by sophomore Nikolina Vuckevic shaved the Lady Plainsmen’s lead to a single point, 33-32, at halftime.

Both teams netted 13 points in a neck-and-neck third quarter. Freshman Yaiza Paredes set the momentum for the Lady Lancer offense in the third with five points. 

The third quarter concluded with NEJC retaining a one-point advantage, 46-45.

EWC captured the lead early in the fourth quarter, 47-46, following an inside shot by sophomore Aliya Tripp. Fellow sophomore Boden Liljedahl went 2-for-2 at the free-throw line, pulling the Lady Lancers up, 49-46.

A reverse layup by freshman Ariadna Martinez kept EWC ahead, 51-48. 

The Lady Plainsmen responded with a seven-point run to lead by two possessions, 55-51. 

Vukcevic drained a deep 3-pointer and the scoreboard swung back in EWC’s favor, 57-55, with 2:20 remaining in regulation.

NEJC answered with a bucket and the game deadlocked at 57. A free throw apiece by Tripp and Paredes returned the lead to EWC, 59-57. The Lady Plainsmen drew a foul as the clock counted down below 10 seconds and netted two free throws to tie the game, 59-59, with 2.5 seconds remaining.

The Lady Plainsmen outscored the Lady Lancers, 17-9, in overtime to clinch the win. 

Three Lady Lancers scored double digits against NEJC, led by Vourliotis with 18 points. Paredes tallied 13 and Tripp 12. Vukcevic and Liljedahl both contributed nine points while Martinez tallied seven.