The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team ran out to a 29-2 first quarter lead and never looked back as the Cougar women rolled to a 73-37 win Thursday night at Cougar Palace in a South Sub-region contest.

                With the win, the Cougar women move to 19-8 on the season and 7-1 in conference play. WNCC needs a win Saturday to win the South sub-region and host the Region IX tournament March 9-11.

                It was the team's defense that helped the Cougars to the big first quarter. WNCC sophomore Rashaan Smith, who had two blocked shots in the game, said they played well and had good defense.

                "I think we played very well," Rashaan Smith said. "I think we shared the ball a lot and I think individually and as a team had a great day."

                Smith said the first half start was something that the team needed as they get ready to close out the regular season.

                "We have been working hard on defense lately so I guess all that hard work paid off," Smith said. "This is a very big win and it is a good confidence booster to beat teams like that."

                WNCC played strong defense with the fast start, holding Lamar to 14 percent shooting from the field and just 9% from beyond the arc in the opening half. WNCC shot 70 percent from the field in the opening half and buried 7-of-11 treys. WNCC led 45-11 at halftime.

                The first quarter saw WNCC five 3-pointers as Jayla Owen and Mackenzie Joseph started the game with back-to-back treys. Owen followed with her second and then Yara Garcia nailed a trey to make the score 18-1. Shiho Isono closed out the first half with a 3-pointer and the 29-2 lead. Lamar's two points were on free throws.

                The second quarter saw WNCC jump to a 32-2 lead before Lamar made their first field goal with 6:50 to play. WNCC ran off another eight straight points including a 3-pointer by Joseph for a 40-4 lead. Bre Fowler added to the trey list with a 3-pointer of her own as they led 45-11 at halftime.

                The third quarter was low scoring as WNCC outscored Lamar 9-8, but the fourth quarter was the Cougars as they went on a 14-3 run to start the fourth to lead 68-22 and never looked back.

                WNCC controlled the game from the get-go as they won the points-off-the-bench battle at 29-13 and also the points-off-turnovers 23-11.

                WNCC had four players in double digits with Smith leading the way with 14 points and nine rebounds. Owen finished with 13 points while Garcia and Fowler each had 11 points. Garcia and Fowler each had two treys. Garcia also had eight rebounds.

                The WNCC women will be back in action Saturday when they host McCook Community College beginning at 2 p.m.

                Smith said the team needs to play like they did Thursday night to get the win over McCook and then on Feb. 25 against Northeastern Junior College at Cougar Palace to wrap up the regular season. The NJC game is slated for a 2 p.m. start.

                "We just have to do what we did tonight (Thursday) and that was play good defense, share the ball, and just play normal Cougar ball," Smith said.

Lamar                    2 9 8 18 – 37
WNCC                   29 16 9 19 – 73
LAMAR
Darling Harris 2, Jada Dupree 4, Emily Schumacher 3, Jami Jo Quick 5, Shanah Estangel 6, Arianna Aguirre 6, Alexi Hoy 5, Alissa Hebberd 6.
WNCC
Shiho Isono 7, Jayla Owen 13, Yara Garcia 11, Emmie Persson-Bandh 2, Bre Fowler 11, Mackenzie Joseph 7, Ola Duda 6, Faith Walker 2, Rashaan Smith 14.