Another long road trip north ended with split results for the Northwest College women’s basketball team, falling to Williston State College in North Dakota on Friday 76-63 before defeating Dawson Community College on Saturday 92-76.

WILLISTON STATE 76, NORTHWEST 63

Venturing back into North Dakota for the final time this season the Trappers (9-5) matched up with the Tetons (10-2) and put their four game winning streak on the line.

Over the first five minutes the two teams exchanged baskets, with the hosts leading 8-7 as Trapper turnovers started rearing their ugly head.

Williston started to create separation late in the opening frame, and held an 18-13 advantage heading into the second quarter.

A quick scoring outburst in the second gave the Tetons a double digit lead, with a 3-pointer with seven minutes left making it a 26-15 contest.

Northwest got back to single digits a couple of times before the Tetons started creating separation, making it a 43-22 game with 1:33 left in the half.

“It was just one of those games where nothing seemed to go right for us,” coach Cody Helenbolt said. “Turnovers were the biggest one, we had 17 in the first half.”

One more Teton basket made it 45-22 going into the break.

Starting out the third quarter the two teams began exchanging baskets, but the hosts maintained their advantage up 51-30 midway through.

The lead grew slightly before quarter’s end, with the Tetons leading 65-39 going into the final frame.

Northwest found its offensive groove in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late as Williston went on to win 76-63.

The Trappers finished with 27 turnovers, and were outrebounded 35-25 which led to 11 more field goal attempts for the hosts.

“We came back in the second half a little bit and battled, we could have just folded. They fought, but it was just kind of an off night for them,” Helenbolt said. “Rebounding and turnovers in general, those were the biggest ones … Disappointing but it’s a good team.”

Jai’La Porter led the Trappers with 12 points and seven rebounds.

NORTHWEST 92, DAWSON CC 76

On Saturday the Trappers matched up with the Buccaneers (4-10) for the second time in two weeks.

Northwest came out stronger than Friday, holding a 12-6 lead midway through the first quarter.

The Trappers held onto their advantage despite a late push by the Buccaneers, up 18-16 after the first.

“I was just frustrated at the beginning of that one because I felt like we started off similar to the other night, we just weren’t catching the ball,” Helenbolt said. “I went with the second group in the first quarter and kind of tried to get my top few kids to regroup a little bit.”

Dawson came out on a 7-2 run and claimed a five point lead, before Northwest responded and the two teams exchanged leads over the next four minutes.

That trend continued, with the Buccaneers leading at the break 40-38 after a Carolina Ruiz basket late cut the deficit to two.

In the third quarter neither team gained an advantage over the first five minutes, as they were deadlocked at 52 midway through the third quarter.

Late in the quarter the Trappers finally found a bit of separation, finishing with a Taylee Carlson layup at the buzzer to take a 69-62 lead into the fourth quarter.

Sydnee Harris finished an and-one inside the first minute of the fourth to make it a double digit game, as Northwest tried to pull away early.

Midway through the final frame the Trappers maintained an eight point lead up 78-70.

Finishing strong offensively, Northwest pushed the lead to as many as 17 at 90-73 with 1:38 remaining, and finished with a 92-76 win.

“I thought they did a good job, especially in the third and throughout the fourth quarter. They really started playing the way that we’ve been accustomed to playing,” Helenbolt said. “To go 3-1 on the two road trips and 5-1 in our last six, obviously you want to win them all. But you’ve got to take a step back and go, ‘hey, for two road trips that we traveled all day and all night, 30-plus hours on the bus or whatever you get, you can’t be too disappointed with going 5-1.’”

Emma Pique led with 16 points and tied for the team lead in rebounds and assists with seven and five respectively.

Bianca Silva had 15 points, five assists and led the team with three steals.

Kelsi Nicholson had 12 points and Tayva Phillips had 10 points as the other Trappers in double figures.

Porter tied with Pique with seven rebounds.

FINAL GAMES BEFORE BREAK

Northwest returns home this weekend one more time, and will play a pair of games against Colorado Northwestern Community College (3-6).

“I just want them to take care of the ball and rebound,” Helenbolt said. “It basically comes down to those two things — when we don’t rebound and we don’t take care of the ball, we struggle.”

The Trappers and Spartans will match up at 5:30 p.m. on Friday night and at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

WILLISTON STATE 76, NORTHWEST 63

Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()

Points — Jai’La Porter 12, Ashlyn Wight 9, Taylee Carlson 9, Tayva Phillips 7, Bianca Silva 7, Emma Pique 6, Kelsi Nicholson 4, Elise Swan 3, Selen Ucak 3, Carolina Ruiz 3

Rebounds — Jai’La Porter 7 (3), Kelsi Nicholson 5 (2), Tayva Phillips 3 (2), Emma Pique 2 (1), Bianca Silva 2, Elise Swan 2, Selen Ucak 2, Bella Yates 1, Taylee Carlson 1

Assists — Kelsi Nicholson 2, Elise Swan 2, Emma Pique 1, Jai’La Porter 1, Ashlyn Wight 1, Carolina Ruiz 1

Steals — Carolina Ruiz 2, Emma Pique 1, Kelsi Nicholson 1, Bianca Silva 1, Elise Swan 1, Taylee Carlson 1

Blocks — Bianca Silva 1

NORTHWEST 92, DAWSON CC 76

Points — Emma Pique 16, Bianca Silva 15, Kelsi Nicholson 12, Tayva Phillips 10, Jai’La Porter 8, Taylee Carlson 8, Carolina Ruiz 7, Selen Ucak 6, Elise Swan 5, Sydnee Harris 5

Rebounds — Emma Pique 7 (4), Jai’La Porter 7 (3), Kelsi Nicholson 6 (1), Carolina Ruiz 4 (2), Bianca Silva 3 (2), Taylee Carlson 2, Tayva Phillips 1, Selen Ucak 1 (1), Sydnee Harris 1 (1)

Assists — Emma Pique 5, Bianca Silva 5, Tayva Phillips 4, Carolina Ruiz 4, Jai’La Porter 3, Elise Swan 1

Steals — Bianca Silva 3, Emma Pique 2, Jai’La Porter 2, Selen Ucak 1, Taylee Carlson 1, Carolina Ruiz 1

Blocks — Kelsi Nicholson 1, Sydnee Harris 1