MCC women fall short against Lancers in Torrington

TORRINGTON, Wyo. – The McCook Community College women dropped an 84-72 decision Friday on the road at Eastern Wyoming.

The Lady Lancers struck for 19 first-quarter points and led MCC after 10 minutes by six points.

“We have got to start games better,” said MCC Coach Brandon Pritchett.

MCC came back strong in the second quarter scoring 27 points and closing the halftime deficit to 43-40, and out-scored the Lancers 17-16 in the third period to make it a 59-57 game to begin the final stanza. Both teams battled close through the first part of the fourth quarter before Eastern Wyoming stretched out the lead and held on down the stretch, enjoying a 25-15 fourth-quarter advantage.

MCC shot 45.8 percent, made 11 of 28 shots from the 3-point line (39.3 percent) and made good on 17 of 22 free throws (77.3 percent). MCC won the rebound battle 25-24, but the Lady Lancers came up with nine offensive boards to just five for MCC.

“We shot it well and got to the free-throw line, we did a lot of things well on offense,” Pritchett said. “We just have to defend better, we have to put multiple stops together throughout the game.”

The Lady Lancers shot 52.5 percent from the field (made 58.1 percent on 2-point field goal tries), made seven of 18 shots from distance (38.9 percent) and 13 of 16 shots from the line (81.2 percent). Four Eastern Wyoming players scored in double-figures.

“Trading baskets won't win games in our league,” Pritchett said.

MCC got a game-high 24 points from sophomore Vanessa Jurewicz (Stockholm, Sweden). She sank four of 10 long-distance shots. Valentina Monzo (sophomore, Santiago, Chile) scored 13 points to go along with five rebounds. Sophomore Carla Torrubia Cano (Melilla, Spain) had 10 points and five rebounds.

Sophomore Maite Lara Garcia (Sant Joan Despi, Spain) had eight points as did Shelby Clark (Las Vegas, Nevada).

The Lady Lancers go to 5-6.

MCC also goes to 5-6 and travels to Cheyenne Saturday for a 3 p.m. game against Laramie County Community College. The Golden Eagles beat MCC 57-53 in McCook Nov. 6.