Overtime loss sends MCC women on the road for post-season

The McCook Community College women closed out the regular season at home Tuesday with 70-69 overtime loss to Northeastern Junior College that sends the team on the road this weekend for the play-in round of the Region IX tournament.

Tuesday's loss at home on sophomore recognition night will send MCC to Sterling, Colo., Saturday for a rematch with these same Plainswomen.

"You miss 10 free throws, shoot 20 percent from 3, and turn the ball over 18 times – and if you eliminate any one of those categories and it's a different story," said MCC Coach Brandon Pritchett.

MCC would have hosted NJC in the play-in game with a win to close out the season.

Both teams battled throughout the night and neither was able to shake the other.

MCC trailed 57-53 in the final three minutes of regulation but was able to take the lead 60-59 with 50.9 left but the Plainswomen were able to tie it with a free throw in the final 8.4 seconds.

"We didn't execute on at a lot of possessions, but when we did, good things happened," said Pritchett.

Tied at 60 at the end of regulation, NJC scored the first three points but MCC tied it at 65-65 with a 3-pointer from Vanessa Jurewicz (sophomore, Stockholm, Sweden) with 2:44 left in overtime and took a 67-65 lead 38 seconds later on a Jurewicz cut down the lane for a layup.

NJC got to the foul-line five times in the final 1:36 of play and made four to hold off MCC.

The Plainswomen shot 43.1 percent from the floor, made 12 of 19 free throws (63.2 percent) and was just two of 16 from the 3-point arc.

"We've got to be better on both sides of the floor," Pritchett said. "Defensively we gave up a lot of points but the good thing is that we'll get another day and get another shot at them at their place Saturday."

MCC shot 48.1 percent from the field, made three of 15 3-pointers, and went 16 of 26 from the line. MCC outrebounded NJC 37-31.

Jurewicz led MCC with 21 points. Marta Moya Perez (freshman, Alboraya, Spain) scored 17 points off the bench and led MCC with seven rebounds.

Both teams finish the Region IX schedule at 4-6 tied for fourth place, but NJC wins the tie-breaker. The Plainswomen finish at 11-18 overall and MCC 13-19

For all the up-to-date information on MCC women's basketball this season and all sports including schedules, statistics, rosters and photos, please visit the official website of MCC Athletics at mccindians.com

WOMEN'S REGION IX

FINAL SOUTH STANDINGS

                               W - L     PCT.             (OVERALL)

Western Neb.            9 – 1     .889              (21-8)

Otero JC                   8 – 2     .800              (19-6)

Trinidad State           5 – 5     .500              (11-16)

Northeastern            4 – 6     .400              (10-18)

McCook CC               4 – 6     .400              (13-18)

Lamar                      0 – 10   .000              (7-21)