TRAPPER WOMEN SPLIT HOME OPENERS

The Northwest College women's basketball team split its first two home games of the season during the Coach Collins Heart of a Champion Memorial Classic at Cabre Gym. A disappointing third quarter on Friday led to a 74-65 loss to Western Nebraska before the Trappers rebounded and blew out Bismarck State College on Saturday 98-48. 

WESTERN NEBRASKA 74, NORTHWEST 65
After two weeks on the road the Trappers (5-3) opened up their home slate with a matchup against a Region IX South team on Friday, welcoming the Cougars (6-1) to Powell.

Strong shooting helped Northwest burst out the gates, opening up an 11-2 lead after the first three minutes.

Western Nebraska battled back the rest of the first quarter, never taking the lead but cutting it to 16-15 heading into the second.

Northwest continued to hold the Cougars off, continually holding the lead between 2-5 points.

That lead held going into halftime, with the Trappers up 34-33 at the break.

Northwest continued to hold a slim lead early in the second half up 41-39, before a 10-3 run over two minutes helped Western Nebraska claim the lead after speeding up the Trappers.

"Turnovers are always the name of the game," coach Lauren Davis said. "Western Nebraska is great at speeding you up and my freshmen are still learning to have poise under pressure."

The Cougars also dominated down low through Faith Walker, a 6-foot forward who finished with nine points in the quarter and 25 in the game as Northwest had no answer.

"We got out-played down low. She is a really good offensive rebounder and we all knew that," Davis said. "Unfortunately, we were unable to have a rebounding mindset which killed us."

That run extended towards the end of the third quarter and the Cougars finished the quarter by outscoring the Trappers 19-10 and taking a 52-44 lead into the fourth.

In the third quarter Northwest shot 21.4% from the field with nearly half of the team's points coming at the free throw line where the Trappers were 4-5.

Northwest battled back in the final frame, when the lead got cut to three after a Roxanne Rogers 3-pointer, as Northwest's leading scorer got going in the fourth after she had one point in the first half.

"Roxanne is learning that people will definitely be face-guarding or making her catches much more difficult," Davis said. "She is learning to grow her game and be a much better screener and passer — which also helps her to get open too."

Northwest was unable to get closer despite Rogers having 11 in the quarter, and the Trappers eventually fell 74-65.

Rogers was the leading scorer with 15 alongside Kamalani Anitielu, while Carolina Ruiz put up a 12-point, eight-rebound game as the other Trapper in double figures. 

NORTHWEST 98, BISMARCK STATE 48
After the disappointing loss Friday night, the Trappers turned their attention to the Mystics (1-6) on Saturday in an attempt to earn their first home win.

Northwest again started the game with strong shooting, leaping out to a 13-4 lead after the first six minutes.

That momentum allowed the Trappers to continue pushing, and resulted in a 27-8 lead after shooting 50% from the field and from 3-point range in the first.

Northwest quickly expanded on the lead, scoring 12 straight to start the second and put a cap on the quick start to the contest.

"Saturday was big for us," Davis said. "It tells me more about a team by how they come out after a loss rather than a win. I'm happy we were ready."

Bismarck had a stronger second quarter, but Northwest still held a 49-24 lead going into the locker room.

The second half continued to be more of the same, with Northwest pushing and making the lead 40 midway through the third.

Northwest finished the game with a 98-48 win, which included five Trappers finishing in double-figures and 11 players getting in the contest — much to the liking of Davis.

"I'm glad we could get everyone minutes and build confidence while working on our offensive and defensive rotations," Davis said.

Rogers led with 24 points followed by Anitielu with 16 and five steals, Anna Knight had 13 and six rebounds, Bianca Silva had 12 points along with five assists and five steals and Jai'La Porter was the final Trapper in double figures with 10 points. 

MONTANA TRIP AND RETURN HOME
Northwest went on the road in the middle of this week to get two more contests before the Thanksgiving break.

The Trappers won against Dawson Community College Tuesday night 74-57.

Northwest was then set to take on the Rocky Mountain JV on Wednesday night in Billings; that result was determined after the press deadline.

Read full recaps of those games in next Thursday's Powell Tribune.

The Trappers return home next week to take on North Idaho College in a pair of contests on Nov. 30 and Dec. 2 at Cabre Gym.

WESTERN NEBRASKA 74, NORTHWEST 65
Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()
Points — Kamalani Anitielu 15, Roxanne Rogers 15, Carolina Ruiz 12, Bianca Silva 5, Brayli Reimer 4, Kelsi Nicholson 4, Anna Knight 3, Tayva Phillips 3, Jai'La Porter 2, Isabella Gurie 2
Rebounds — Carolina Ruiz 8 (1), Isabella Gurie 5 (1), Kamalani Anitielu 3 (1), Bianca Silva 3 (1), Anna Knight 2, Tayva Phillips 2, Brayli Reimer 1, Jai'La Porter 1, Roxanne Rogers 1, Ana Vakanjac 1 (1), Kelsi Nicholson 1 (1)
Assists — Bianca Silva 4, Kamalani Anitielu 3, Brayli Reimer 2, Carolina Ruiz 2, Anna Knight 1, Jai'La Porter 1, Roxanne Rogers 1
Steals — Roxanne Rogers 4, Kamalani Anitielu 2, Brayli Reimer 1, Jai'La Porter 1, Tayva Phillips 1, Kelsi Nicholson 1 

NORTHWEST 98, BISMARCK STATE 48
Points — Roxanne Rogers 24, Kamalani Anitielu 16, Anna Knight 13, Bianca Silva 12, Jai'La Porter 10, Tayva Phillips 6, Carolina Ruiz 5, Brayli Reimer 5, Kelsi Nicholson 4, Selen Ucak 3
Rebounds — Anna Knight 6 (4), Tayva Phillips 5 (1), Kamalani Anitielu 5 (3), Brayli Reimer 4 (2), Kelsi Nicholson 3 (2), Isabella Gurie 3 (1), Bianca Silva 3 (1), Carolina Ruiz 2 (1), Roxanne Rogers 1, Jai'La Porter 1 (1), Selen Ucak 1
Assists — Bianca Silva 5, Kamalani Anitielu 4, Carolina Ruiz 4, Selen Ucak 2, Tayva Phillips 1, Roxanne Rogers 1, Brayli Reimer 1, Jai'La Porter 1, Isabella Gurie 1
Steals — Kamalani Anitielu 5, Bianca Silva 5, Roxanne Rogers 4, Tayva Phillips 2, Selen Ucak 1