Defense fuels Lady Indians’ big win in Texas

BIG SPRING, Texas – The McCook Community College women held Western Texas College to two first-quarter points on the way to a 58-39 win in the final game of the Howard College Classic Saturday.

 

“We had another great first quarter start,” said MCC Coach Brandon Pritchett. “I thought we really defended well.”

 

The Lady Indians limited the Westerners to 11.1 percent shooting in the first quarter, forced nine turnovers and had five steals on the way to a 14-2 first-quarter lead and a 32-14 advantage at halftime. MCC built the lead to 26 points late in the third quarter, led 47-25 after 30 minutes and coasted to the win.

 

For the game MCC held WTC to 24.4 percent shooting on 41 shots and 8.3 percent from the 3-point line on 12 shots. The Westerners turned the ball over 26 times and MCC came up with 14 steals on defense led by five from freshman Anastasia Labelle-Piskor (Saint Amand Les Easux, France).

 

Western sophomore Addie Dunn, 5-10 guard, who leads the team in scoring this season at 11.0 points per game, was held scoreless on 11 shots from the field in 32 minutes of play. She was 0-for-five from the 3-point line.

 

The Lady Westerners fall to 2-5.

 

MCC shot 44.4 percent from the floor on 45 shots, made seven of 15 attempts from the 3-point line (46.7 percent) and made 11 of 14 free throws (78.6 percent) with 11 assists and 21 turnovers. The Lady Indians held a 22-12 edge in paint points and a 25-20 advantage in bench points.

 

“Offensively we shot it well but gave away too many possessions on turnovers,” said Prichett. “If we can get that fixed our points per game would be so much better.”

 

Sophomore Claudia Serrador Cortazar (Trapagaran, Spain) led the way in the post with 13 points and eight rebounds. Mar Molina Munoz (sophomore, Parets del Valles, Spain) scored eight points with four boards while Nevaeh Lucero (sophomore, Thornton, Colo.) scored eight points with three assists.

 

“We got a little bit from everyone tonight,” said Pritchett, “Claudia again established our inside presence today and Tracey played well off the bench and shot it well.”

 

Freshman Tracey Senga (Paris, France) scored nine points off the bench making all three of her shots from the field including both attempts from beyond the 3-point line. Sophomore Miah Wren (Rangely, Colo.) scored seven points with a 3-pointer and three rebounds. Freshman Brooklyn Gurbiel-Karemaker (Chidlow, Australia) had four points with four assists, two rebounds and two steals off the bench.

 

“Our bench played well for us, and we'll need that this week with three games,” said Pritchett.

 

MCC evens its record to 3-3. The Lady Indians return home Tuesday to play the opening game in a women’s/men’s doubleheader against Central Community College. The women will play at 5:30 p.m. with the men’s game to follow.

 

This weekend MCC travels to Wyoming for a pair of games in the Gillette Classic, taking on two of the traditionally stronger teams in the Region IX north division in Gillette and Casper.