Feb. 4, 2007

Final Stats

The Northeastern Junior College women's basketball team notched its 19th win of the season Saturday in the Jackson-Edwards arena. The Plainswomen held Casper to 17 points in the first half and finished the game with a 60-51 victory.

After shooting just 23 percent from the perimeter in the first half, NJC set the place on fire in the second half by hitting 60 percent. Coach Darrel Parker's team stretched a six-point halftime lead to 44-32 midway through the second half.

Casper defeated NJC in Wyoming on Jan. 13 by knocking down seven, three-pointers in the second half to overcome NJC's three-point, halftime lead. But on Saturday, NJC's perimeter defense made the adjustment.

In the last meeting between the two teams, Casper's Mary Brown, Leah Stepovich and Carine Reimink burned NJC for a combined 46 points. This time around, the trio managed just 20 total points against the Plainswomen defense.

"Holding them to just two, three-pointers in the second half was huge for us," NJC assistant coach Dave Huss said. "They're a good outside shooting team, and that's how they beat us last time. Our defense kept us in it in the first half and allowed us to build that lead in the second half."

Freshman Sarah Conner led NJC with 15 points. Conner's ability to get to the free-throw line fueled her night as she hit 7-of-10 from the charity stripe. The guard from Guernsey, Wyo., also chipped in five rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Daria Basova followed a tough game in Otero with a double-double on Saturday, scoring 11 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

Roni Whitman scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds. The sophomore from Peetz dished out three assists and had three steals to anchor the NJC backcourt.

Sophomore forward Jackie Davis scored six points and pulled down nine rebounds.