CHEYENNE, WY – The Laramie County Community College women's basketball team continued to show their growth early in the season as the moved to 2-2 on the year with a convincing 72-62 win at the Blue FCU RAC against Northeastern Junior College on Monday night.
"Our chemistry is getting better," Head Coach Danielle Rinaldo said. "I'm getting used to them and they are getting used to me and how we are seeing things. We are flowing a lot more in our offense and our defense is looking like what we want to see."
The game couldn't have gotten off to a better start for the Golden Eagles thanks to a 10-0 run, but NJC didn't let the good times roll, closing back to 10-7 heading into the first media timeout. That run kept going and eventually they would finish the quarter on top of LCCC 18-17.
It seemed like both teams had their runs and the game would settle into a more of a back and forth in the second quarter. Neither team was able to lead by more than two until late in the second when the Golden Eagles were able to close the half on a 9-4 run to take a 35-30 lead into the locker rooms.
The Plainswomen closed the gap again in the third quarter, doubling up LCCC's offense in the first few minutes but Keira Williams and Kelly Megown drained a pair of threes to help rebuilding the lead and at the midway timeout, the Golden Eagles were back up 48-42.
"In past games, we've had a little difficulty in that third quarter just getting that momentum started, so for us to come out and hit those three's and get us running and scoring, it was really important," Williams said.
The game hadn't had any time of consistent lead, and that trend continued with a 7-0 run from Northeastern to give them a lead at 49-48. That would be their last lead though as LCCC reclaimed it on the next possession and took a 55-53 lead into the final quarter.
NJC did tie the game at 60 with another push, but the Golden Eagles closed the game from there on a 12-2 run to earn the women's basketball team's first win at the Blue FCU RAC and move the team back to .500 on the season.
Williams was a woman on a mission, leading the Golden Eagles with a career-high 24 points to go with three assists. She finished the night 4-5 from three as well.
"I had the ball in my hands and (NJC) didn't have their hands up and I was just feeling it, so I just let it loose," Williams said.
Megown's 11 and Flora Lukow's 13 were the only other two LCCC players to find double digits in the game. Megown also added 10 rebounds to the tally for her first career double-double for the Golden Eagles.
Marcela Pinedo-Saavedra had a six-point, six-steal game while also grabbing eleven rebounds.
"For me it's just natural, stealing the ball, and I feel like it also helps that my teammates are behind me so I can go and reach for that ball, and they will have my back and have my help," Pinedo-Saavedra said.
As a team, the turnover battle was huge for the Golden Eagle to win, forcing 24 from Northeastern while turning it over 17 times themselves. LCCC finished with 14 steals in the game. NJC did win the rebounding battle 40-36.
The Golden Eagles will have time to rest but not much as they are back in action on Friday night when they travel to Scottsbluff for a game with the Western Nebraska Community College Cougars. Opening tip is a late one from The Cougar Palace at 7:30 pm. Streaming information and more on the LCCC schedule can be found at www.golccc.com.