STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team captured their 20th win of the season, securing the South Sub-region second seed with a 75-57 win over Northeastern Junior College Saturday afternoon in Sterling, Colorado.
The win moves the Cougars to 20-10 overall and 10-4 in the sub-region. WNCC will now host a first-round Region IX tournament game on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Laramie County Community College.
The win was also a record-setting performance for Zozefine Sipolina, who made three 3-pointers, breaking the career 3-pointers made record set by Merle Wiehl from 2019. Wiehl had 160 made 3-pointers and Sipolina now has 163 made triples.
Sipolina set the record when she buried a 3-pointer with 4:16 left in the first quarter to give the Cougars a 9-8 lead. NJC came right back hit a bucket, but WNCC went back in front as Ella Chesta-Carty buried a 3-pointer for a 12-10 lead. WNCC went on to lead 20-12 after one period.
The second half saw the Cougars ignite as they outscored the Plainswomen 20-9 to lead 40-21 at halftime.
The third quarter saw the Cougars outscore the Plainswomen 17-14 to lead 57-35. NJC outscored the Cougars 22-18 in the fourth period, but WNCC already had a big enough lead for the win.
WNCC shot well shooting 48 percent from the field and buried nine 3-pointers. The Cougars were also 8-of-10 from the charity strip. WNCC defense was stiff as they held the Plainswomen to 37 percent field goal shooting and holding NJC to just three triples. NJC also made 8-of-10 free throws.
WNCC controlled the rebounding aspect 39-28. Chesta-Carty had nine boards while Sipolina and Aniaya Burton-Hernandez each with eight rebounds.
WNCC had four players in double figures. Charisma Johnson led the way with 17 points. Johnson made 8-of-11 from the field and had seven assists.
Sipolina and Veralyn Aviles each had 15 points with Sipolina getting three triples and Aviles hitting two triples. Chesta-Carty finished with 10 points.
The full Region IX tournament first-round games will be released Monday or Tuesday. LCCC plays Central Wyoming on Monday in the final regular-season contest.
WNCC (20-10) 20 20 17 18 – 75
NJC (9-21) 12 9 14 22 – 57
WNCC
Charisma Johnson 17, Veralyn Aviles 15, Zozefine Sipolina 15, Ella Chesta-Carty 10, Aniaya Burton-Hernandez 8, Juseana-Rae Delatori 8, Brynn Sybrant 2.
NJC
Daniela Garcia-Gasco 17, Madison Sepeda 12, Markella Psarra 9, Monique Sena 7, Veronica Baray 5, Riley Phelps 4, Rebekah Seggerman 3.