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Women's Basketball

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Week of Jan 27 to Feb 3

February 12, 2010

By Ken McDowell
Sports Editor

The Northeastern Junior College (NJC) Plainswomen got ahead early and stayed ahead in their 84-57 win Tuesday over the Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Lady Lancers in the Bank of Colorado Event Center.  NJC (19-4) took an early 22-4 advantage with the help of 8 points by sophomore Mrashi Karumba and 6 each by sophomore Sabelle Diata and freshman Maty Diallo.  But EWC reeled off 13 straight points to close the NJC led to 22-17 and at the same time held the Plainswomen scoreless for nearly four minutes.  But freshman Lynnae Cox ended the drought with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put NJC back up 25-17 with 8:30 left in the first half.  The trey by the Fleming freshman lit a fire under the NJC offense as the Plainswomen rolled to a 38-21 halftime lead.  Diallo completed a 3-point play to open the second half, followed by a bucket from sophomore Amy Marin. NJC later extended the lead to 55-27 on another Diallo deuce and were never threatened the rest of the way.

“I thought we played pretty well,” said Sterling Coach Darrel Parker. “We got off to a good start and let them back in the game a little. But we played good defense and hit the boards well.”  Diata had yet another double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. NJC out-rebounded EWC 46-28.  Karumba followed with 18 points, Diallo 11, Cox 8, sophomore Dawn Wattley and freshman Hallie Nichols 6 each, freshman Nichole Burns 4, Marin, sophomore Caroline Lampkin and freshman Dara Kipp 3 apiece and sophomore Chelsea Arnell 2.  Marin was the assist leader with 9  and also had 2 steals along with Wattley.

On Saturday the Plainswomen opened South Sub-Region action at Lamar Community College and rolled to a 68-46 win. Diata doubled up again with 19 points and an amazing 20 rebounds.  Karumba had 17 points, Wattley 8, Diallo 6, Arnell 5, Cox 4, Marin 3 and freshman Kelsey Anderson, Nichols and Lampkin 2 each.  Karumba, Marin and Wattley each had 7 rebounds as NJC dominated the boards 67-36. Karumba had 7 assists and 3 steals.  On Wednesday (Jan. 27) the Plainswomen hosted the Western Nebraska Community College Lady Cougars and put up an impressive 58-39 win. Diata had 21 points, Karumba 13 and Marin and Diallo 8 each.

NJC will Air Force Prep Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Bank of Colorado Event Center. The Plainswomen lost to that same team in Colorado Springs by a 62-37 score on Jan, 23.  “We just didn’t play very well in that game,” Parker recalled. “We played flat, so hopefully we can turn things around Friday."