NWC opens region IX with split

Posted 3/4/21

When the Northwest College women’s basketball team took its first possession last week, something was different about the Trappers’ opponent: zone defense. 

Most of NWC’s …

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NWC opens region IX with split

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When the Northwest College women’s basketball team took its first possession last week, something was different about the Trappers’ opponent: zone defense. 

Most of NWC’s first few games came against teams that played man defense, but Central Wyoming College played a traditional 2-3 zone instead. As a result, the Trappers saw more space from long range — and they took advantage on Wednesday, Feb. 24. 

“We shared the ball and got a lot of easy looks,” head coach Camden Levett said. “We shot it well and jumped on them early.”

Efficient shooting allowed the Trappers to dominate early, leading 60-46 entering the fourth quarter. The team shot nearly 50% from 3-point range and posted a 46.4% clip from the field, helping NWC earn a 78-75 victory. 

Though CWC played into its home crowd and closed the gap in the fourth quarter, the Trappers’ offensive prowess earlier in the game helped them secure the win. 

“We knew they were going to play tough,” Levett said. “That’s always a tough game to play there, but our ball movement and shooting got us going.”

Leading the scoring effort, Samiyah Worrell contributed 28 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Worrell also drew several fouls, converting on nine of 12 free-throw attempts. 

“She was aggressive,” Levett said. “She was attacking the basket and was a big part of our offense.”

Also in double figures were Sydney Prather and Riley Aiono, who tallied 20 and 10 points, respectively. The trio of Worrell, Prather and Aiono combined for 26 of NWC’s 37 rebounds.

Three days after that win, on Saturday, NWC faced Laramie County Community College, and Levett was not as pleased with his team’s effort. Holding a seven-point lead in the third quarter, NWC had the game in control before that advantage slipped and the Trappers fell 72-68. 

Late in the game, Northwest’s ball control deteriorated, committing nearly a dozen turnovers in the second half. The Golden Eagles took advantage and scored several buckets in transition, helping them take the lead in the final minute of the third quarter — one they would never let go of. 

“We had too many turnovers late in the game; that cost us,” Levett said. “Late in the game, they [LCCC} wanted it more.”

Saturday’s loss ended the Trappers’ four-game win streak and brought them to 7-5 (1-1 in Region IX). Though Levett “obviously wanted to win that one,” the coach said the disappointing defeat could wake his team up.

“When we got to the locker room, there were a lot of heads down,” Levett said. “We were frustrated, and we can learn from that.”

Before playing games against Western Wyoming (home) and Eastern Wyoming (road) this week, Levett said much of the focus will be on the team’s effectiveness in transition. 

“We had 14 steals against LCCC, and those steals are great, but let’s put those into points,” Levett said. “I remember we had a lot of fast breaks where we didn’t get a shot up because of turnovers. Let’s finish those.”

    

Northwest 78, Central Wyoming 73

Points — Samiyah Worrell 28, Sydney Prather 20, Riley Aiono 10, Raquel Turner 8, Tatiana Coleman 4, Shelby Tarter 4, Kierra Cutright 2

Rebounds — Worrell 9, Prather 9, Aiono 8, Coleman 3, Cutright 2, Turner 1, Tarter 1, Hidaya Thornton 1

Assists — Prather 5, Worrell 4

    

Laramie County 72, Northwest 68

Points — Tarter 15, Prather 15, Worrell 10, Turner 7, Celina Tress 7, Cutright 7, Aiono 5, Smutna 2

Rebounds — Aiono 8, Prather 6, Cutright 4, Worrell 2, Tarter 2, Smutna 2, Tress 1, Thornton 1

Steals — Cutright 4

Northwest College, Trapper Basketball

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