CASPER, Wyo. – Helena Kuck poured in 22 points and the Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team outscored Western Wyoming Community College 44-19 in the second half for the 71-54 win Friday afternoon at the Region 9 Crossover Classic in Casper, Wyoming.
                The win moves the Cougars to 13-4 on the season and got the team back on the winning track after falling to Gillette College on Thursday in the Classic. WNCC was 0-6 against Western Wyoming the last two years.
WNCC will wrap up the Crossover Classic on Saturday when they face Casper College at 6 p.m.
                Friday’s win was one where Western Wyoming led 11-7 in the first quarter before the Cougars got a steal from Laura Montiel and bucket to take the lead. It didn’t last long as the Mustangs went up 16-12 before Zozefina Sipolina hit a triple at the end of the quarter as the Cougars trailed 16-15 after one.
                WNCC started the second jumping to a 22-18 lead on a Kuck 3-pointer. Western Wyoming came back with an 8-0 run to lead 26-22. WNCC sliced the deficit to 29-27 late on another Montiel steal, but Western Wyoming close out the half with a 6-0 run to lead the Cougars 35-27 at halftime.
                The second half was a totally different story for the Cougar women as they outscored the Mustangs in the third quarter 19-6. WNCC took the lead 42-38 on a 7-0 run a bucket by Kuck and then Kuck buried three free throws after getting fouled on a 3-point shot. WNCC led 46-41 after three periods.
                WNCC opened the fourth quarter with four straight points to lead 51-43 and led 53-47. That was when the Cougars went on a 12-0 run that was highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers from Adelina Urtane and Montiel for a 65-47 lead with 1:34 to play. WNCC never let Western Wyoming get within single digits as they posted the 71-54 win.
                The Cougars had four players in double figures. Kuck led all scorers with 22 points, including five 3-pointers. Lidia Hernandez tallied 13 points while Urtane and Montiel each had 11 points.
                Urtane tallied a double-double in the game with 11 rebounds to go with her 11 points.
                WNCC shot 44 percent for the game while Western Wyoming was 37 percent. WNCC connected on nine 3-pointers and were a perfect 14-of-14 from the charity stripe. Western Wyoming made just three treys and were 18 percent from behind the arc. The Mustangs were also 5-of-10 from the charity stripe.
 
WNCC (13-4)                 15 12 19 25 – 71
W. Wyoming                   16 19 6 13 – 54
WNCC
Lidia Hernandez 13, Helena Kuck 22, Laura Montiel 11, Adelina Urtane 11, Nataly Dunka 6, Zozefine Sipolina 8.
WESTERN WYOMING
Ana-Isabel Andersson 5, Sierra Eddie 15, Kayla Thornton 8, Austyn Feller 20, Kaylee Hess 3, Aliyah Bantolina 1.