No. 4 CSI too much as Northwest splits weekend

Just enough of the shots that weren’t falling for the Northwest College women’s basketball team on Friday found the bottom of the net Saturday as the Trappers went 1-1 at home over the weekend.

The Trappers (4-6) shot just 30.9 percent from the floor — including 3-for-18 (16.7 percent) from the 3-point line — in a 84-60 loss to No. 4 College of Southern Idaho on Friday. They improved their shooting to just 36.7 percent on Saturday, but hit 9-of-21 for 3-pointers and 17-of-22 free throws to edge Snow 70-67 on Saturday.

“It was good to see us knock down some threes because we definitely struggled the night before shooting against CSI,” said NWC head coach Janis Beal.

Jacey Shaw and Aubree Porter scored 19 points each in the win over Snow, and Kealani Sagapolu scored 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists in another all-around effort.

Porter’s scoring outburst against Snow followed an 0-for-12 night that saw her miss all 10 of her 3-point attempts. Porter scored at least nine points in seven of Northwest’s 10 games.

“I think Friday was a little bit of an off night. She had some really good looks that we had to keep telling her, ‘Hey, we want you to take that shot,’” Beal said. “They’ll start to fall, and apparently she just saved them for Saturday.”

Porter was 6-for-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from deep. She also made all four of her free throw attempts on a night that every point mattered.

“Us making free throws down the end was a big part of us securing the win,” Beal said.

Sagapolu, who scored in double figures for the seventh straight game, was only 3-for-10 from the floor but made six of her game-high eight foul shots.

The 5-10 beacon of consistency for the Trappers earned her fifth double-double of the season with 15 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks against CSI.

She excelled again on Saturday despite being tasked with guarding Snow’s best player, Brooke Wheeler.

“She was, in a sense, undersized compared to their 6-2, 6-3 post kid, who’s very good, but Kealani did a great job of at least keeping her in check,” Beal said.

Wheeler scored 23 points and had six rebounds.

“She could have gone off for more,” Beal said.

Sagapolu was key in opening up Northwest’s offense against Snow. The Trappers found themselves in an 18-12 hole after one quarter, but outscored the Badgers by nine points the rest of the way.

“Kealani did a great job establishing herself in the post, so as soon as she started getting catches they were kind of sucking in and doubling. And she did a good job of kicking out and getting it to our guards where they were open for three,” Beal said.

Shaw was 4-for-6 from deep, Porter was 3-for-5 and Shelby Nicholson and Kennedy Netto each made one three.

Chandler Rose was the fourth Trapper in double figures against Snow. The sophomore guard scored 12 points, grabbed four boards, had one assist and one block.

The Badgers shot 56.6 percent from the floor but were just 1-of-3 from the 3-point line and 6-of-10 on foul shots.

“(Snow) shot a really good percentage. We did press them a little bit and they got a couple easy ones. But I think it was worth giving up some of those shots because it got them out of their rhythm,” Beal said.

It was the Trappers who were out of rhythm in the second half against the Golden Eagles on Friday night.

Northwest went into the half tied 32-32, but CSI doubled its point total in the third quarter alone to blow the game open.

“Against CSI, I thought we had a great first half. The girls really battled and for whatever reason we came out a little hesitant in the third quarter, and that’s where we lost that game — was the third quarter,” Beal said.

The Trappers will get another chance to put together a complete game against a ranked opponent when they take on No. 7 Salt Lake (7-0) at 5 p.m. today (Friday).

“Salt Lake is very good. They haven’t lost. They’re a little bit different style than CSI but as far as good players all the way around, Salt Lake is going to be right up there,” Beal said.

Northwest was originally scheduled to leave for Salt Lake on Wednesday, but left on Tuesday to beat the incoming storm. The Trappers will get a chance to see SLCC play Gillette on Wednesday.

Northwest plays Utah State University Eastern at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

“We played them in a scrimmage early on and I’ve seen a little bit more on them. They have some kids who can really shoot it, and some kids who can really drive,” Beal said. “In that game it’s going to come down to — Kealani is definitely going to have to establish herself in the post. I think she has an advantage there. We can get it inside a little bit and use her.”

The Trappers may benefit from the debut of Larissa Knight, who has missed every game this season with a back injury.

Knight has resumed practice and Beal said she’s “making progress.”

“She might play a little bit this weekend, depending on how the next couple days go as far as our practices,” Beal said.