Team falls in Salt Lake tournamentNorthwest College's women's basketball team suffered a pair of losses at the Salt Lake Community College tournament over the weekend. The Trappers lost a 74-60 contest to Eastern Utah on Friday night before falling to the tournament host by an 85-48 final count. The losses slide Northwest's record to 3-5 for the season. “Friday night just came down to us not playing hard,” said NWC head coach Janis Beal. “We just came out with no energy and no intensity and that's about all it comes down to. We were not ready to play.”Despite the flat start to the contest, Northwest trailed by just one point at intermission, 26-25. The Trappers benefited greatly from Eastern Utah's shooting struggles. Despite tossing up 42 shots in the first half, Eastern Utah managed to connect on just 24 percent of the opportunities to keep Northwest close. Unfortunately, those struggles did not continue after intermission. Eastern Utah emerged from the locker room to hit 47 percent of its second-half shots to pull away. The Trappers were also hindered by a 22-11 turnover disparity in the game.Megan Goodman finished with 16 points for Northwest. Valerie Lesu added 11 points and Meagen Butler dropped in 10 points. Meagan Smith narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with nine points and a team-best 13 rebounds. “Val did a great job coming off the bench,” Beal said. “She was one of the few players that brought an energy to the floor with her.”On Saturday, the Trappers were hurt by a slow start against nationally ranked Salt Lake. Northwest hit just five of its 34 attempts from the floor prior to the halftime break. The result was a 38-11 deficit. “It sounds strange to say, but I thought we played a lot better on Saturday,” said Beal. “Our effort was much better. We played hard. It was just one of those nights where we could not hit a shot.”The Trappers improved to 12-for-34 shooting in the second half, but were unable to mount a threat to the substantial SLCC lead. Northwest's comeback effort was hindered by a 57-32 shortcoming in the rebounding department. The Trappers also shot just 18 free throws to Salt Lake's 36. “We need to do a better job of finishing opportunities and finding ways to score,” Beal said. “When you're on the road, you're not always going to have calls going your way, and we have to be able to find other ways to score when we're not getting to the foul line.”Northwest hosts the Eastern Idaho All-Stars to open the Big Horn Federal Shootout on Friday. The Trapper women face Snow College on Saturday. Both games tip off at 5:30 p.m.Salt Lake 85, Northwest 48Duran 11, Fisher 10, Goodman 2, Smith 10, Lesu 2, Butler 4, Ryan 5, Garrett 4. Eastern Utah 74, Northwest 60Butler 10, Fisher 2, Goodman 16, Ryan 4, Smith 9, Duran 3, Santos 2, Garrett 3, Lesu 11. Mariah Duran finished with 11 points to lead Northwest College. Jessica Fisher and Smith each added 10 points in support.

Team falls in Salt Lake tournament

Northwest College's women's basketball team suffered a pair of losses at the Salt Lake Community College tournament over the weekend. The Trappers lost a 74-60 contest to Eastern Utah on Friday night before falling to the tournament host by an 85-48 final count.

The losses slide Northwest's record to 3-5 for the season.

“Friday night just came down to us not playing hard,” said NWC head coach Janis Beal. “We just came out with no energy and no intensity and that's about all it comes down to. We were not ready to play.”

Despite the flat start to the contest, Northwest trailed by just one point at intermission, 26-25. The Trappers benefited greatly from Eastern Utah's shooting struggles. Despite tossing up 42 shots in the first half, Eastern Utah managed to connect on just 24 percent of the opportunities to keep Northwest close.

Unfortunately, those struggles did not continue after intermission. Eastern Utah emerged from the locker room to hit 47 percent of its second-half shots to pull away. The Trappers were also hindered by a 22-11 turnover disparity in the game.

Megan Goodman finished with 16 points for Northwest. Valerie Lesu added 11 points and Meagen Butler dropped in 10 points. Meagan Smith narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with nine points and a team-best 13 rebounds.

“Val did a great job coming off the bench,” Beal said. “She was one of the few players that brought an energy to the floor with her.”

On Saturday, the Trappers were hurt by a slow start against nationally ranked Salt Lake. Northwest hit just five of its 34 attempts from the floor prior to the halftime break. The result was a 38-11 deficit.

“It sounds strange to say, but I thought we played a lot better on Saturday,” said Beal. “Our effort was much better. We played hard. It was just one of those nights where we could not hit a shot.”

The Trappers improved to 12-for-34 shooting in the second half, but were unable to mount a threat to the substantial SLCC lead.

Northwest's comeback effort was hindered by a 57-32 shortcoming in the rebounding department. The Trappers also shot just 18 free throws to Salt Lake's 36.

“We need to do a better job of finishing opportunities and finding ways to score,” Beal said. “When you're on the road, you're not always going to have calls going your way, and we have to be able to find other ways to score when we're not getting to the foul line.”

Northwest hosts the Eastern Idaho All-Stars to open the Big Horn Federal Shootout on Friday. The Trapper women face Snow College on Saturday. Both games tip off at 5:30 p.m.

Salt Lake 85, Northwest 48

Duran 11, Fisher 10, Goodman 2, Smith 10, Lesu 2, Butler 4, Ryan 5, Garrett 4.

Eastern Utah 74, Northwest 60

Butler 10, Fisher 2, Goodman 16, Ryan 4, Smith 9, Duran 3, Santos 2, Garrett 3, Lesu 11.

Mariah Duran finished with 11 points to lead Northwest College. Jessica Fisher and Smith each added 10 points in support.