Adelina Urtane poured in 25 points and the Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team held Central Wyoming College to without a point for over 10 minutes in the second half in registering the 66-37 win Tuesday evening at Cougar Palace.
WNCC, 7-2 on the season, will have a couple days off before they have a 3-day Thanksgiving Classic in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they will play Utah State Eastern on Friday, No. 22 Salt Lake Community College on Saturday, and Dawson Community College on Sunday.
WNCC head coach Ryan Davis said it wasn't their best game as it was a game sandwiched between two competitive weekends.
"I don't think we played very well. I think it was a classic where we played two hard games 12 hours away one way and come back 12 hours and get back at 7 a.m., but it isn't an excuse. We warned them and we showed up not ready," Davis said. "I thought the second half was a lot better but it can't take you that long to wake up because if you do that these games this weekend, it is over."
While the team only had two players score in double figures and shot 41 percent from the field and were 10-of-19 from beyond the arc and 8-14 from the charity stripe. Urtane had a career night scoring 25 points with four 3-pointers, eight rebounds, and was 9-of-11 shooting from the field.
Helena Kuck also chipped in 14 points with four 3-pointers and six assists.
While the offense was sparkling, the defense was definitely glowing.
Early on, the defense wasn't, but after the first quarter the Cougars defense became hardcore, allowing just 24 points in the final three periods. There was a 10-minute stretch in the third and fourth quarter that the Cougars held the Rustlers to without a basket.
"I was over there with a terrible attitude on the bench where I thought everything was bad," Davis said. "Then I saw the stat sheet and saw that (defense) and they definitely deserve credit for that. One of their best players is out and she was one of their players that rebounded and they are in the top 50 in the country in rebounds and we out-rebounded them by 16 and a lot of those came in the second half,"
Early on, Central Wyoming didn't look anything like the Cougars beat 92-46 back on November 2. Tuesday, Central Wyoming scored the first four points before the Cougars went on a 12-0 run to lead 12-4 behind seven points from Urtane. The Cougars led 19-13 after one period.
The second quarter was low scoring from both teams as WNCC outscored Central Wyoming 9-6 to hold a 28-19 lead at halftime.
It was the second half that changed for the Cougars. WNCC held a 37-29 lead in the third with Central Wyoming scoring that 39th point with about 3:45 to play. After that, the Cougars held the Rustlers scoreless the rest of the way while also going on a 12-0 run to lead 49-29 after three.
That 12-0 run was highlighted by two triples by Urtane and a 3-pointer by Nataly Dunka.
WNCC kept the defense going in the fourth quarter as the Cougars scored the first nine points of the fourth behind four points from Zozefine Sipolina, three points from Asia Mitchell, and a big steal and bucket by Laura Montiel to lead 58-39.
The Cougars held Central Wyoming without a point until Sophie Wilkinson hit a bucket with 3:20 to play. WNCC went on to capture the victory 66-37.
CWC 13 6 10 8 – 37
WNCC 19 9 21 17 – 66
CENTRAL WYOMING
Natalia Ballin 8, Esperanza Vergara 12, Katie Walker 7, Sophie Wilkinson 8, Tiffay Tervort 2.
WNCC
Helena Kuck 14, Laura Montiel 4, Adelina Urtane 25, Zozefine Sipolina 7, Nataly Dunka 5, Lidia Hernandez 7, Asia Mitchell 4.