Western Nebraska Community College has formally appealed a ruling that declared one of its women’s basketball players ineligible and required the unbeaten Cougars to forfeit their first 13 victories.

The college says the appeal to the National Junior College Athletic Association included extensive supporting  documentation on the amateur status of women’s basketball player Evgenia “Jess” Samorodova of Russia.

The NJCAA believes that the 6-3 Samorodova played on either a professional team or a team with a professional player earlier this year, either of which would make her ineligible.

WNCC Athletic Director Ryan Burgner said the ruling “came as a surprise” and  maintains the college did more than the required level of “due diligence” in verifying Samorodova’s eligibility.

Samorodova played in 9 of the Cougars 13 games before the ruling was issued, averaging 14.2 points and 7 rebounds a game.

She remains enrolled at WNCC, but won’t compete any more this season unless the appeal is successful. With the forfeits, the Cougars are 2-13…but none of the games were Region IX contests and the forfeits don’t affect WNCC’s eligibility for the regional and national tournaments.