TORRINGTON –  The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Lady Lancers bagged their second season win in a point-for-point battle against Northeastern Junior College at home on Thursday, November 21.

EWC led at halftime, 32-26, before Northeastern pulled ahead, 48-37, at the end of the third quarter. The Lady Lancers fought back to close a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

The lead bounced back and forth across the court for the remaining two minutes of regulation. An inside shot by sophomore Nikolina Vukcevic placed EWC up by one point, 60-59, with one minute left on the clock. A steal by freshman Rhia Saggar forced Northeastern to turn over possession on its final attempt to score and EWC posted the win.

On Friday, November 22, the Lady Lancers traveled to play Concordia University’s junior varsity squad. EWC dominated the first three quarters against Concordia and held of an attempt by the Tornadoes to turn the tide in the fourth quarter to triumph, 83-66.

Northeastern

Following a brief back-and-forth early in opening quarter, the Lady Lancers pulled ahead, 13-12, for the remainder of the quarter when sophomore Josephine Vourliotis netted a 3-pointer.

Buckets by sophomore Aliya Tripp and freshman Lucy Devoy and a layup from sophomore Tawny Rodriguez placed EWC up by one possession, 19-16, as the second quarter began.

The Lady Lancers outscored Northeastern, 13-10, in the second. Tripp and freshman Yaiza Paredes each scored a close-range shot and went 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. A buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Paredes widened EWC’s lead, 32-26, at halftime.

Northeastern responded in the third quarter, scoring 22 points while holding EWC to five. The Lady Plainsmen found themselves up, 54-37, in the fourth.

Digging deep, the Lady Lancers battled back. Vourliotis netted a layup and Rodriguez converted an and-one. 

Sophomore Leamsi Acuna grabbed back-to-back steals and followed up with a three-point play. Paredes rebounded a missed shot by Northeastern and sent the ball to Tripp for a bucket.

Vukcevic scored from inside the perimeter. Tripp and Acuna maintained the defensive pressure with a steal apiece. 

Tripp tossed in a pair of free throws and Rodriguez converted an and-1, placing EWC within one point of overtaking Northeastern, 59-58, at 1:43.

Vukcevic pulled down a defensive rebound and went on to score a close-range shot. Sagger forced a turnover on Northeastern’s ensuing possession with a steal, sealing the win for EWC.

Tripp led the Lady Lancers in scoring with 14 points. Rodriguez and Paredes also netted double digits with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Vukcevic contributed eight points with five each by Acuna and Vourliotis. Devoy and freshman Ariadna Martinez scored two points apiece.

Tripp led on the boards with eight rebounds. Acuna and Rodriguez both delivered four assists while Acuna totaled six steals.