SCOTTSBLUFF, NE – The Laramie County Community College women's basketball team kicked off the Western Nebraska Classic on Friday with a thriller against Central Wyoming College, gathering the victory at the final buzzer, 75-72.

The Golden Eagles, who now have their first win of the season lost to the Rustlers earlier in the week on the road on Tuesday.  The Golden Eagles are now 1-3 for the season.

Freshman Darien Hale led the scoring for LCCC, putting up a season-high 16 points and six assists. Freshman Caylin Arnold also had a good showing, putting up her consistency on display with 15 points and posting a career-high with seven rebounds. Mariah Sheets added 12 points for the Golden Eagles.

The Rustlers were led by a duo of double-digit scorers with Atajma Criss-Felton and Bailey Forney. Criss-Felton led the squad with 24 points and Forney had 19 points and posted eight rebounds.

The Golden Eagles put up a solid first quarter against Central Wyoming, shooting nearly 50 percent from the field to lead, 19-15. There were able to carry that momentum after the break and put up another 19 points in the second quarter. The teams entered the locker rooms at halftime as Laramie County led Central Wyoming  by 14, 38-24.

The Rustlers showed their grit in the second half, starting with an early run against the Golden Eagles to put them within single digits midway through the third quarter. They held the gap through the end of the period, and trailed LCCC by nine entering the fourth quarter.

LCCC started out the fourth quarter with a run and led Central Wyoming with minutes remaining. LCCC would go on and take the game with a 75-72 win at the final buzzer.

Laramie County will be back in Scottsbluff, Nebraska on Saturday as they play Adams State JV for a 12 p.m. contest.