TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College Lady Lancers picked up an opening round win over Lamar Community College at home on Saturday, 69-59, to advance in the Region IX Tournament.
The Lady Lancers got off to a slow start, falling behind 22-9 after the first quarter. In the second frame, EWC came out hot and took a 25-24 lead with 5:17 to go in the first half. By intermission, Lamar retook the lead 30-25.
The Lady Lopes extended their lead to nine points heading into the final quarter. In the first three minutes of the fourth, EWC brought the score to within four, 55-51. With 4:57 remaining, the game was tied at 55. The home team took a 58-56 lead with 3:30 to go and would not give up the advantage, continuing to distance itself from Lamar to get the 10-point lead.
Four starters for the Lady Lancers scored in double-figures, with Sarah Bersang’s 15 points leading the way. She nailed two three-pointers and hit all five of her free-throw attempts. She also chipped in four boards, three assists and two steals.
Pamela Bethel recorded a double-double in the win, amassing 12 points and 13 rebounds. She added a steal and two blocks to her stat line.
Emily Evans, with 11 points, and Anna Perez Gomez, with 10, rounded out the top scorers for EWC. The two combined to knock down four three pointers and go 7-of-10 from the charity stripe and rack up six boards, six assists and two steals. Carna Prokic, the final starter for the Lady Lancers, contributed nine points, five boards, an assist and a team-high four steals. Three of her steals came in the second half and lead to seven coast-to-coast points.
The Lady Lancers were out shot from all areas of the floor. EWC shot 34 percent from the field, 32 percent from behind the arc and 78 percent from the line, while Lamar knocked down 35 percent from the floor, 35 percent from deep and 80 percent from the charity stripe.
The big difference proved to come at the charity stripe. EWC shot 27 free throws compared to Lamar’s 10 attempts. The Lady Lopes also committed 18 turnovers to EWC’s eight.
The Lady Lancers improved to 20-11 on the season and advanced in the tournament. Their next game comes against Western Wyoming College on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Region IX tournament hosted by Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Neb.
