CHEYENNE – The Laramie County Community College women's basketball team has dropped four straight games, falling 78-60 to Western Nebraska Community College on Saturday.
The Golden Eagles drop their record in Region IX South to 5-6 and 14-13 overall. The Cougars improve to 11-0 in Region IX South play and 23-3 overall.
Freshman Sarah Kruthaupt (Las Vegas, Nevada) had her seventh consecutive double-figure performance with a team-high 17 points. Fellow freshman Karli O'Brien (Rapid City, South Dakota) followed with 16 points while Darian Hale (Briggsdale, Colorado) had 10 points. Kruthaupt and sophomore Madison Hamm (Fort Collins, Colorado) had a team-high eight rebounds. O'Brien led with five assists.
A total of seven players contributed to LCCC's final point tally. The Golden Eagles shot 35.6 percent from the field (16-45), 12.5 percent from three-point range (2-16) and 74.3 percent from the free throw line (26-35). LCCC beat the opponent on the boards with 47 rebounds to Western Nebraska's 33.
The Cougars led the Golden Eagles with 14 assists compared to seven and the Cougars also had a game-high 17 steals. The Golden Eagles were hurt by 30 turnovers in the game.
Western Nebraska was led by a 26-point effort from Merle Wiehl. Karli Seay had 14 points and Melisa Kadic added 11 points. Giovanna Silva brought down a game-high 15 rebounds.
The Cougars shot 40.3 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the perimeter and 80 percent from the charity stripe.
LCCC was able to get WNCC into foul trouble early in the first quarter. Knocking down a couple free throws. Western Nebraska applied a foul court press and forced the Golden Eagles into two quick turnovers to get them back into the game. Golden Eagles would trail 21-17 after one.
A three-pointer midway through the second quarter would start an 11-0 run for WNCC to build a 13-point lead, holding the Golden Eagles scoreless from the field for over five minutes. At the half, WNCC led LCCC 39-34.
The Cougars would widen the gap during the third quarter after pair of 3-pointers from Wiehl. A late run by the Golden Eagles closed the down to nine by the end of the quarter at 57-48. The Cougars would extend that lead and close the game with a 78-60 win.
Laramie County will be back in the RAC on Saturday, Feb. 17, with a 2 p.m. tipoff against Trinidad State Junior College.
Tickets for this and all LCCC home basketball games are $5 adults, $3 students, $2 seniors and military and free for all LCCC students, staff and faculty with an LCCC ID.
For the latest on Laramie County Women's Basketball, stay tuned to golccc.com and follow the team on Twitter @lcccsports and @lcccwbasketball.