RIVERTON, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team utilized balanced scoring and another solid defensive effort in downing Western Wyoming Community College 64-35 in the first day of the Wyoming Community Bank Classic Friday in Riverton, Wyoming.
The Cougars defensive effort was highlighted by 14 steals and holding the Mustangs to just 21 percent shooting.
WNCC had just two players in double figures, led by Kalli Feddersen with 13 points and Hannah Sparks with 11. Ozge Yarga and Mikayla Gonzales pitched in eight points each.
The Cougars play was demonstrated from the get-go, holding a 17-12 lead after one period. WNCC doubled up the Mustangs at halftime, outscoring Western Wyoming 15-4 for a 32-16 halftime lead.
WNCC kept up the defensive effort as well as hitting shots in the second half. The Cougars outscored Western Wyoming 16-10 in the third quarter and then 16-9 in the final stanza for their ninth win of the season.
The Cougars shot 41 percent from the field, including connecting on 36 percent from beyond the arc with five 3-pointers. Ozge Yarga buried two treys while Feddersen, Oleida DeLeon, and Rylee Ward each had one.
The Cougars also cleaned the glass for 45 rebounds, led by Gonzales with eight and six each from Feddersen and Sladjana Rakovic.
Sparks and Yarga each had three steals in the game, while Zeynep Canbaz had four assists.
WNCC, 9-2, will finish off the Wyoming Community Bank Classic Saturday when they face Central Wyoming College. The Cougars will then wrap up the first semester with a pair of home games next weekend when they will face the Nebraska All-stars on Friday and then McCook Community College on Saturday.
WNCC (9-2) 17 15 16 16 – 64
WWCC (7-2) 12 4 10 9 – 35
WNCC
Kalli Feddersen 13, Sladjana Rakovic 6, Hannah Sparks 11, Zeynep Canbaz 2, Bree Paulson 3, Ozge Yarga 8, Luize Skrastina 6, Oleida DeLeon 3, Rylee Ward 3, Mikayla Gonzales 8, Myram Garcia 1.
WWCC
Reece Bauer 11, Julia Hanni 2, Irene Garrido Perez 10, Shayla Strauss 3, Savannah Hunter 9.