TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Lady Lancers basketball team battled with grit against three opponents over the course of a busy five-day period from November 8-12, picking up one victory.

EWC commenced the weekend with a neck-and-neck away game against North Platte Community College (NPCC) on Friday. The game tied, 51-51, at the end of regulation before North Platte went on to post a 62-58 overtime win.

EWC rallied in a close away game against McCook Community College on Saturday to score a five-point victory, 66-61.

On Tuesday, the Lady Lancers hosted the Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) Lady Cougars. Despite matching WNCC in scoring several times in the second half, EWC ultimately came up short, 76-62.

North Platte

The Lady Lancers controlled the scoreboard by several possessions in the first half to establish a 21-17 lead at the end of the second quarter.

NPCC responded with 14 points to 10 by EWC in the third quarter and the game deadlocked, 31-31, as the fourth quarter commenced.

Both teams left it all on the court in the fourth quarter with 20 points apiece and regulation ended in a 51-51 stalemate.

NPCC went on to outmaneuver EWC in overtime, 11-7.

Freshman Yaiza Paredes led the Lady Lancers offense with 19 points. Sophomore Tawny Rodriguez tallied 10 points, sophomore Leamsi Acuna nine with six apiece by sophomore Nikolina Vukcevic and freshman Ariadna Martinez. Sophomore Aliya Tripp netted five points while fellow sophomore Josephine Vourliotis rounded out the scorebook with three.

Vukcevic dominated the boards with 13 rebounds. Acuna delivered three assists while Paredes tallied three blocks. Sophomore Luna Moreno, Vukcevic and Paredes each collected four steals.

McCook College

McCook pulled ahead, 22-4, in the first quarter. EWC and McCook both tossed in seven points in the second quarter and McCook led at halftime, 29-11.

Digging deep, the Lady Lancers blasted back onto the court to outscore McCook, 30-12, in the third quarter and tie the game, 41-41.

EWC maintained its intensity in the fourth quarter, netting 25 points to 20 from McCook.

Four Lady Lancers tallied double-digit points against McCook, including Vukcevic at 15, Tripp 13 and Acuna and Paredes with 10 apiece. Rodriguez and freshman Rhia Saggar both contributed eight points with two by Martinez.

Acuna, Rodriguez, Tripp, Paredes and Saggar each pulled down four rebounds. Acuna passed the ball for three assists while Tripp forced turnover with five steals.

WNCC

WNCC led by several possessions, 34-27, at halftime. 

EWC battled back in the third quarter, tossing in 21 points while holding WNCC to 18. A layup by Acuna brought EWC to within one point of overtaking the Lady Cougars, 36-35. Vukcevic netted a jumper and the game reached a deadlock, 37-37, with 5:29 remaining in the third.

WNCC pulled back up by two possessions to lead, 52-48, at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

The game tied early in the fourth quarter, 52-52, following a pair of free throws from Rodriguez. WNCC pulled back up and steadily widened its lead through the remainder of the fourth.

Paredes netted 13 points against WNCC, Vukcevic 12, Rodriguez 10, Saggar seven, Martinez six, Vourliotis five, Acuna four, freshman Lucy Devoy three and Tripp two.

Rodriguez led on the boards with seven rebounds. Paredes tallied three assists. Acuna and Rodriguez each rustled three steals.