WOMEN'S HOOPERS FALL AFTER PHYSICAL WEEKEND

A difficult, physical weekend saw the Northwest College women's basketball team's win streak snapped at five. The Trappers lost a second half lead and fell to Lake Region State College 58-54 on Friday, before losing to a team of local All-Stars made up of former college and high school players 54-42 on Saturday. 

LAKE REGION 58, NORTHWEST 54
Riding high on a five game winning streak the Trappers (8-5) were hoping to extend those winning ways against the visiting Royals (8-6) from Devils Lake, North Dakota.

A strong defense helped the Trappers set the tone early, building a 9-4 lead six minutes into the game.

Northwest continued to play strong defense and hold the lead, growing it to 16-8 after Carolina Ruiz hit a 3-pointer just inside half court at the buzzer.

In the second quarter, the Trappers kept up the pressure and started with a 9-2 run and built a 15 point lead.

"I think if we can pressure teams early and be disruptive we will see success," coach Lauren Davis said. "We just need to be able to attain it for four quarters."

Late in the quarter the visitors made a run and cut the lead down to as little as five, but the Trappers went into halftime up 31-24.

Northwest again established a double-digit lead up 36-26, before the Royals turned the tide.

Over the next seven minutes the visitors turned up the defensive pressure, outscoring Northwest 11-2 and cutting the lead down to two.

"Their size and length made us play out of our comfort zone and settle for shots we normally don't take," Davis said.

Tayva Phillips gave Northwest a five point lead after a 3-pointer, but Lake Region continued pushing and cut the lead down to 42-41 heading into the fourth quarter.

Lake Region regained the lead for the first time since the first quarter up 47-45 with 7:34 left, but Northwest instantly went ahead on a Kamalani Anitielu 3-pointer.

The surge from the visitors kept coming, with Lake Region establishing a 52-48 lead with 5:38 left.

Northwest battled back to tie, but was unable to reclaim the lead.

The Royals went up 56-54 with a minute left, and sealed it with two free throws with 10 seconds left to make a 58-54 final.

A dismal shooting second half sunk the Trappers, finishing 8-33 (24.2%) from the field as a team.

Anitielu finished as the leading scorer with 16 points just ahead of Roxanne Rogers with 14. Phillips led with eight rebounds and four steals.

ALL-STARS 54, NORTHWEST 42
The loss Friday snapped the Trappers win streak, and they looked to rebound and start a new one against an All-Star team composed of former basketball players living around the Big Horn Basin.

Northwest came out strong in the first quarter and built a 6-2 lead.

The All-Stars responded and claimed the lead 12-10, and taking control of the game.

Northwest continued to trail and went into the second quarter down 16-11.

A 10-0 run started the second quarter, putting Northwest in a 15 point hole early.

"I think when you play All-Star teams it's always hard," Davis said. "A lot of the women on that team have played tons of college minutes compared to my freshmen. They're smarter and more mature, so I think the physicality among other things took them by surprise."

Northwest scored, but the All-Stars continued to push the lead out to make it 32-14.

The Trappers cut it down after Ruiz scored all eight second quarter points and made it 34-19 at the break.

Five straight out of the half cut the lead down to 10, but the All-Stars continued to have an answer.

Northwest made a run late in the third, cutting it down to 41-35 but fell behind again 43-35 going into the fourth quarter.

Another run early in the fourth pushed it back to double-digits, and the Trappers were never able to find their way closer than seven in the fourth quarter and fell to the All-Stars 54-42.

Ruiz led with 17 points as the only Trapper in double figures. Bianca Silva led with six assists.

Amy Buck led the All-Star team with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Northwest shot 16-65 (24.6%) as a team in the game while the All-Stars shot 19-46 (41.3%).     

FINAL FIRST SEMESTER GAMES
Northwest remains at home this weekend to wrap up the first semester, starting with a second matchup against Dawson Community College (4-9), a team which the Trappers defeated 74-57 in November.

That game will tip off at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Northwest will then take on Salt Lake Community College (9-4) at 2 p.m. Saturday.

"We want to go into the break strong and with momentum. That's our goal," Davis said.

Those will be Northwest's final games before the winter break, with the Trappers returning to action on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at home against Miles Community College.   

LAKE REGION 58, NORTHWEST 54
Total rebounds then offensive rebounds ()
Points — Kamalani Anitielu 16, Roxanne Rogers 14, Tyne Killip 8, Tayva Phillips 7, Carolina Ruiz 5, Anna Knight 2, Bianca Silva 2
Rebounds — Tayva Phillips 8 (1), Roxanne Rogers 7 (3), Kamalani Anitielu 5, Tyne Killip 4 (2), Anna Knight 2 (1), Brayli Reimer 2, Jai'La Porter 2, Carolina Ruiz 1, Kelsi Nicholson 1, Bianca Silva 1
Assists — Bianca Silva 3, Kamalani Anitielu 2, Carolina Ruiz 2, Tayva Phillips 1, Brayli Reimer 1
Steals — Tayva Phillips 4, Carolina Ruiz 2, Bianca Silva 2
Blocks — Roxanne Rogers 2, Kamalani Anitielu 1    

ALL-STARS 54, NORTHWEST 42
Points — Carolina Ruiz 17, Kamalani Anitielu 7, Roxanne Rogers 6, Kelsi Nicholson 5, Ana Vakanjac 3, Tayva Phillips 2, Bianca Silva 2
Rebounds — Roxanne Rogers 6 (2), Kelsi Nicholson 5 (4), Tayva Phillips 3, Carolina Ruiz 3 (1), Bianca Silva 3 (1), Ana Vakanjac 2 (1), Kamalani Anitielu 1 (1), Selen Ucak 1
Assists — Bianca Silva 6, Carolina Ruiz 2, Kamalani Anitielu 1, Selen Ucak 1
Steals — Tayva Phillips 3, Roxanne Rogers 3, Carolina Ruiz 3, Bianca Silva 3