TRINIDAD, Colo. – Zozefine Sipolina scored 26 points and the Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball remained unbeaten in the South Sub-region with a 71-64 win over Trinidad State College Friday evening in Trinidad, Colorado.

                The win moves the Cougars to 14-6 overall and 4-0 in the South conference. WNCC sets a top the South conference with McCook Community College. Lamar Community College, and Otero College all in second with one conference defeat.

                WNCC will look to stay atop the standings when they travel to Otero on Saturday for an afternoon contest in LaJunta, Colorado.

                Saturday was a game that the Cougars struggled shooting, hitting just 28 percent of their shots and connecting on just 25 percent of their 3-point shots, making just 7 triples.

                Trinidad State shot 37 percent and made 10 3-pointers.

                WNCC won the game from the free throw line where the Cougars were 28-of-40 from the charity stripe compared to just 4-of-8 for the Trojans.

                The Cougars trailed after one period 15-9. Trinidad built a 21-13 lead early in the second quarter. That was when the Cougars woke up, outscoring Trinidad 20-5 the rest of the half. WNCC went on a 9-0 run that saw all nine points from Sipolina as she put the Cougars in front with 4:55 to play with two free throws.

                Trinidad retook the lead twice, the last time at 26-24. WNCC closed out the half in not allowing Trinidad a bucket in the final three minutes while scoring nine points of their own. WNCC led 33-26 at halftime.

                The third quarter was a back-and-forth contest with both teams exchanging buckets. Trinidad tied the game at 46-46 but the Cougars scored the final four points for the 50-46 lead after three periods.

                The final quarter saw WNCC outscore the Trojans 21-18, but trailed twice in the final 10 minutes, the final time at 58-57. That was when WNCC went on a 6-0 run that saw Ella Chesta-Carty bury a three and then Juseana-Rae Delatori make three of four free throws for a 63-58 lead. WNCC went on to win 71-64.

                Sipolina had 26 points to lead all scorers, followed by Chesta-Carty with 18 and Celina Donyo with 12.

WNCC (14-6)                 9 14 17 21 – 71
Trinidad                        15 11 20 18 – 64
WNCC
Zozefine Sipolina 26, Ella Chesta-Carty 18, Celina Donyo 12, Charisma Johnson 6, Juseana-Rae Delatori 5, Veralyn Aviles 2, Aniaya Burton-Hernandez 2.
TRINIDAD
Blanca Oranias Ramon 14, Alesa Cantoria 11, Sofia Moran Servian 11, Gabby O'Hara 9, Aliyah Olawoyin 8, Ainna Lopez Cuco 5, Allie Bishop 4, Yasmin Santana Dias 2.