LAMAR, Colo. — The Western Nebraska Community College men and women opened south sub-region play last night in Colorado at Lamar Community College. The Lady Cougars had an easy 79-52 win, but the men lost their second straight overtime game 81-74.

In the women’s contest, WNCC took an 11 point lead, but fouls allowed the Runnin’ Lopes to close the margin to just 5 at the half…39-34. The Cougars dominated after the break, outscoring Lamar 79-18.

The WNCC’s was highlighted by eight 3-pointers…3 from Torrington’s Mikayla Brower, 2 each from Maurissa Ortega and Laurin Rivera, and 1 from Shalisa Moffit.

Four Cougars scored in double digits…3 of them area players. Ashley Stevens of Bridgeport had 17 points, Morrill’s Jessica Aratani 16, and Brower13. The other was Rivera, who had 12. Moffit added 9, Ortega’s treys accounted for her 6 points, Gritt Ryder had 5, and Michelle Brassard 2.

The men’s contest was a hard-fought contest from start to finish, with Lamar up 35-27 at halftime. The lead changed hands multiple time in the second half, and was tied at 68 at the end of regulation. Lamar jumped out to a 75-70 margin and the Cougars couldn’t catch up.

WNCC coach Russ Beck said afterward that the team’s third overtime game in its last 5 outings was frustrating because they won every statistical category except free throw shooting…which they work on every day in practice.

“”I really have loved coaching my boys this past week,” Beck said. “We have a group that listens, a group that shares the ball, and a group that is positive.

“When we decide to quit having to learn from a loss, then we will be prepared to teach the loser. I stand by this team and we will be in teh hunt by the time this is all said and done. It is one day at a time.”

Both WNCC squads return to action on Friday when they host McCook Community College in their sub-region home openers. The women’s contest starts at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men’s game. Both can be heard on Double Q Country.