Lady Indians claim road win at NJC
STERLING, Colo. – The McCook Community College women’s basketball team got back on the winning track Friday with an 87-68 win over Northeastern Junior College.
MCC scored 54 second-half points and five Lady Indians scored in double-figures to keep the team in second place in the Region IX South Standings with a 4-1 record.
After racing to a 10-0 lead, the Plainswomen responded to close the lead at the end of the first quarter to 18-13. MCC led at the half 33-21 and 53-45 after three quarters but were able to break open the game in the closing five minutes of the game.
“I thought we had some really good balance scoring, and we got really good shots tonight,” said MCC Coach Brandon Pritchett. “We made free throws and that really helped us keep the lead in the fourth.”
MCC made 14 of 16 free throws over the final 10 minutes of the game and went 26-for-32 from the line for the game (81.3 percent). The Lady Indians shot 58.3 percent from the field and made five of 15 shots from the 3-point line (33.3 percent). MCC outrebounded 27-23, had 10 assists and 12 turnovers.
“I thought we did a much better job taking care of the ball tonight as well,” said Pritchett. “We shared the ball and made plays for each other and that is what we have been stressing the last two days.
Sophomore Madara Liepniece (Riga, Latvia) and freshman Laia Izquierdo Altimira (Barcelona, Spain) both scored 19 points to lead the Lady Indians. Both players had five rebounds each and both went seven-for-eight from the free-throw line.
“Madara shot the ball well, she got into a rhythm tonight, kept her head up and made some great plays,” said Pritchett. “And Laia made two big 3’s in the first half.”
Freshman Johanna Gerlach (Hachborn, Germany) came off the bench to score 16 points, sophomore Natalie Harmata (Sydney, Australia) scored 12 points and sophomore Irene Fernandez Pavesio (Miami-Dade, Asturias, Spain) scored 11 points.
“Jojo came off the bench and gave us a big offensive boost,” said Pritchett. “And that’s something I think she can really do for us when she keeps things simple.”
NJC falls to 0-4 in the region and 3-20 overall.
MCC improves to 14-9 overall and keeps pace with first-place Western Nebraska in the standings. The top two teams will receive a first-round bye in the post season tournament.
The Lady Indians will switch back into the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference with a pair of road games to wrap up the conference schedule. On Tuesday MCC – first in the NCCAC standings at 4-0 – travels to North Platte to take on the Knights, who are 2-1 in the standings and 13-10 overall. An MCC win would clinch the NCCAC title. The Lady Indians opened the season at home against North Platte and nipped the Knights 57-56.
On Feb. 9, MCC will conclude the conference schedule in Lincoln against Southeast Community College. MCC downed the Bobcats 55-51 on Jan. 26.
Up-to-date information about MCC basketball including livestream links, schedule, statistics, rosters, photos and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com