STRONG THIRD QUARTER PACES TRAPPER WOMEN

A dominant 29-9 third quarter helped the Northwest College women's basketball team separate from the visiting Rocky Mountain JV, leading to a 78-56 win for the Trappers in the final non-conference game of the season.    

NORTHWEST 78, ROCKY MOUNTAIN JV 56
Hoping to end their eight game homestand on a high note, the Trappers (11-6) were looking to finish the season series with a sweep of the Battlin' Bears.

Neither team could find separation in the opening frame, and despite a worse shooting quarter the Trappers held a 20-17 lead heading into the second.

Northwest opened up as much as a seven point lead midway through the second quarter, before Rocky rallied and cut the deficit down to one possession trailing 32-30 at the half.

Northwest started the third quarter with a 12-4 run, followed by another 11-1 stretch to put them up 55-35.

"I think that they realized they weren't playing to their potential," coach Lauren Davis said. "Our urgency wasn't there. We picked up the ball pressure and turned defense into offense."

Both teams ended the quarter relatively equal in scoring, as Northwest held a 61-39 lead heading into the final frame.

An 11-2 start in the fourth quarter opened the game up to a 31-point advantage, and Northwest cruised late to the tune of a 78-56 victory.

Roxanne Rogers and Carolina Ruiz tied for the team lead in scoring with 15 each, Kamalani Anitielu and Bianca Silva had 11 points and Tayva Phillips was the final double-digit scorer for Northwest with 10.

Finishing with five double-digit scorers was a positive sign for Davis, who was encouraged by several offensive weapons on this Trapper team.

"It's great," Davis said. "It's team basketball and it shows that we have multiple weapons."

Anitielu led with seven rebounds, Silva led with seven assists and Rogers led with four steals.