The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team played solid defense in doubling up Trinidad State Junior College in claiming a 64-32 South Region IX win Thursday at Cougar Palace.

                The Cougars, in picking up their eighth win of the season, utilized balanced scoring in the win. The win was huge for the Cougars as they got back on the winning path after falling to Casper College 70-61 last week.

                "We have learned a bit from the Casper game but we still are not playing our best," freshman Sladjana Rakovic said. "We need to continue to improve every game and move forwards instead of backwards as a team."

                The Cougars did take a step forward, especially defensively as WNCC held Trinidad to just 11 points at halftime.

                "We played defense alright," Rakovic said. "But we still need to get more rebounds and steals. We also need to communicate better."

                WNCC out-rebounded the Trojans 37-27, led by Bree Paulson's five boards, while Rakovic, Kalli Feddersen, and Hannah Sparks all cleaned the glass with four boards.

                WNCC also generated 10 steals, including three from Mikayla Gonzales.

                Scoring was the big key for the Cougars, shooting 47 percent for the game and converting on four of 8 3-pointers, and making 12 of 19 charity stripes.

                WNCC was led in scoring by Rakovic with 12 points followed by Zeynep Canbaz with 11 points.

                The Cougars defense limited Trinidad to just 23 percent shooting and 19 percent (3 of 16) from beyond the arc.

                The Cougars controlled the contest from the get-go, bolting to a 9-0 lead before Trinidad finally scored with 3:26 left in the first quarter. WNCC went on to lead 15-4 after one period.

                WNCC pushed the lead to 23-7 in the second quarter behind two buckets by Rakovic and went on to lead 28-11 at intermission.

                The Cougars came out of the locker room hot, scoring the first nine points, including three free throws from Paulson, back-to-back buckets by Canbaz, and a big in-the-paint bucket by Sparks after Canbaz delivered a sizzling pass to the sophomore guard for the bucket to lead 37-11. WNCC led after three 46-24.

                The fourth quarter was already decided as WNCC pushed the lead to 61-28 on a two Rakovic buckets and a 3-pointer by Rylee Ward and they cruised to the win.

                WNCC, 8-2, will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Riverton, Wyoming for a classic. WNCC will play Western Wyoming Community College on Friday before taking on Central Wyoming College on Saturday.

Trinidad (3-11)                   4 7 13 8 – 32

WNCC (8-2)                        15 13 18 18 – 64

TRINIDAD

Nyece Smith 5, Alayanna Latimore 4, Holly Woodbury 5, Tammarrah Gothard 8, Kara Flores 3, Baylee Robinson 6, Ashling O'Doherty 1.

WNCC

Kalli Feddersen 4, Sladjana Rakovic 12, Hannah Sparks 7, Ozge Yarga 5, Kylie Hager 1, Luize Skrastina 2, Zeynep Canbaz 11, Rylee Ward 8, Mikayla Gonzales 2, Myram Garcia 6.