Eastern Wyoming women hold off MCC rally, win 63-55

Eastern Wyoming women hold off MCC rally, win 63-55

The McCook Community College women's basketball team fell to Eastern Wyoming 63-55 Saturday in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center. The Lady Indians dropped both weekend games to Region IX north teams (MCC lost 53-37 Friday to Laramie County Community College) heading into key part of the season this week to start the Region IX south schedule.

"We have to get better, and that's what these games were set up to do -- the home and home with Laramie and Eastern were set up to prepare us for our region games so we'll get to work on that Sunday and Monday and prepare for Lamar to come into town Tuesday," said MCC Coach Brandon Pritchett.

The Lancers blew out MCC 92-56 at Torrington Jan. 23, and threated to do the same Saturday racing to a 20-8 lead 16 seconds into the second quarter.

"We had a sluggish first quarter and kind of put ourselves in a hole," Pritchett said. "But at the start of the second quarter and especially in the third and even in the fourth -- we didn't score a whole lot in the fourth quarter -- but I thought our execution offensively is getting better," he said.

Eastern Wyoming led 32- 23 at halftime but the Lady Indians chipped away at the lead in the third, enjoying a 22-15 edge to close the game to 47- 45 at the end of the third period. The Lancers pulled away with a 16-10 fourth quarter edge.

"There were times we'd be making a run and then we'd put them on the free-throw line," Pritchett said. "We just learn to defend a little bit better but we are improving and that's what I want to see from this group."

Eastern Wyoming out-scored MCC 12-2 at the free-throw line. The Lancers made 12 of 13 free throws (92.3 percent) including five of six in the second half. MCC was just two of four in the game.

After shooting 34.6 percent from the field in the first half, MCC improved to 48.3 percent in the second half and 41.8 percent for the game.
"Our offense is not where it needs to be by any means, but it's definitely improving. We made some runs and got ourselves back in this game," Pritchett said.

Gail Whiting (sophomore, Montgomery, Ala.) led MCC with 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and three steals. Sophomore Amiya Dartest (Jennings, La.) scored 10 points including a two-for-six night at the 3-point line.

"Amiya made some shots for us tonight, but she's not where she needs to be, she did run things better for us in this game," Pritchett said.

Carla Torrubia Cano (sophomore, Melilla Spain) scored seven points and freshman Alyssa Van Vleet (Oberlin, Kan.) came off the bench
with a pair of 3 pointers.

"We needed a little bit more from our bench at times, we just weren't as deep that way, and that happens sometimes, but I thought we competed, and then Eastern made some shots down the stretch," Pritchett said.

MCC goes to 4-3 and will play 3-4 Lamar Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

For more photos from tonight's game please visit the McCook Community College Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MPCCMcCook