NWC WOMEN PICK UP KEY WIN
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
Wrapping up a three game home stretch the Northwest College women's basketball team earned a third straight win, picking up a key win and avenging an earlier season loss against Central Wyoming with an 89-50 victory.
NORTHWEST 89, CENTRAL WYOMING 50
Riding high after a weekend sweep the week prior the Trappers (17-10 overall, 4-5 Region IX North) welcomed in the Rustlers (7-20 overall, 2-7 Region IX North) on Thursday and were looking to avenge an earlier season 76-69 loss.
Northwest came out strong, going up 15-5 just past the midway point of the first quarter after a Kelsi Nicholson jumper.
That lead held at the end of the second quarter, as Northwest held a 25-14 advantage.
After Central scored the first point of the frame the Trappers responded with a 19-0 stretch over the next five minutes, as they built a commanding 44-15 lead with 3:24 remaining.
"We talked about defensive intensity being the strength of the game plan," coach Cody Helenbolt said. "They really came out and did a good job in that regard, of just making things tough for Central. They want to shoot a lot of threes, and so we really tried to rush the 3-point line and make their decisions a little bit faster for them, then that allowed us to get out and transition and put up a big quarter offensively."
The Rustlers finally got on the board again, but Northwest again closed with a 7-0 stretch and led 51-17 at the break.
Northwest didn't let up to start the second half, making it a 58-20 game in the first three minutes, as the advantage hovered in the 30s throughout the third quarter until Central cut it down to 28 to end the third with the score at 66-38.
The Trappers reached their largest advantage of the game with 3:01 left in the fourth quarter after a Selen Ucak 3-pointer as Northwest cruised in the second half to an 89-50 win.
'That makes it nicer as a coach when things just go together pretty well and they execute the game plan," Helenbolt said. "We had a game plan in the locker room before the game and literally went through every aspect of it at halftime and then after the game, and they pretty much did everything the way that I kind of asked them to do it."
Emma Pique led with 20 points, Nicholson added 14 and led with eight rebounds, Bianca Silva added 12 points and seven assists.
Tayva Phillips had the most steals with five as Northwest had 40 points off turnovers compared to nine for Central.
KEY GAMES
Heading back out on the road this week the Trappers sit in fourth place in the region, and will be taking on the top three teams in the final stretch of the season.
"The way it looks right now, there's a pretty good chance we're going to be somewhere on that four or five. Obviously getting the four is ideal," Helenbolt said. "Winning one would be massive for us, because I think that would lock up at least the four and get us a home play-in game. That's kind of the goal right now."
The final stretch of the season started on Wednesday night, as the Trappers made the trip to Casper to take on the Thunderbirds (20-6 overall, 7-1 Region IX North); that result was determined after the press deadline.
The road trip will continue this weekend, heading to Rock Springs on Saturday at 2 p.m. to take on Western Wyoming (18-8 overall, 5-3 Region IX North).
NORTHWEST 89, CENTRAL WYOMING 50
Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()
Points — Emma Pique 20, Kelsi Nicholson 14, Bianca Silva 12, Tayva Phillips 9, Jai'La Porter 9, Carolina Ruiz 8, Selen Ucak 7, Elise Swan 6, Sydnee Harris 2, Taylee Carlson 2
Rebounds — Kelsi Nicholson 8 (4), Emma Pique 6, Carolina Ruiz 5 (1), Jai'La Porter 4 (2), Taylee Carlson 4, Bianca Silva 2, Selen Ucak 2 (1), Tayva Phillips 1, Sydnee Harris 1
Assists — Bianca Silva 7, Kelsi Nicholson 4, Carolina Ruiz 4, Emma Pique 3, Elise Swan 2, Tayva Phillips 1, Jai'La Porter 1, Taylee Carlson 1
Steals — Tayva Phillips 5, Carolina Ruiz 4, Emma Pique 3, Taylee Carlson 3, Kelsi Nicholson 2, Bianca Silva 1, Elise Swan 1, Sydnee Harris 1