Rebounding proved to be the difference in the final two home games for the Trappers, as they fell short against Casper College 72-64 last Wednesday and lost a second half lead to Western Wyoming 73-65 on Saturday.

CASPER COLLEGE 72, NORTHWEST 64

Needing a win late in the season to secure a home play-in game, the Trappers (15-13 overall, 4-7 Region IX North) welcomed the No. 17-ranked Thunderbirds (23-5 overall, 9-1 Region IX North) to Cabre Gym last Wednesday.

Both teams battled throughout the first quarter, as Casper College built as large as a six-point lead, but the Trappers stayed close, trailing 19-15 after the first.

A similar theme followed early in the second, before the Thunderbirds broke free over the final three minutes as the Trappers struggled with turnovers and strong shooting from the visitors.

Casper College took advantage, pushing the lead to double-digits and holding a 41-26 advantage at the break.

In the third the lead stretched to as many as 19 before the Trappers worked their way back into the contest.

A late push in the third aided by a Bianca Silva 3-pointer at the buzzer cut the lead to 56-44 heading into the final frame.

Another Silva 3-pointer started the fourth to help Northwest cut the lead to single digits.

Northwest kept pushing, getting the lead down to only four at 60-56 with 6:30 remaining.

“I was impressed with our efficiency and some individual performances,” coach Lauren Davis said.

Casper continued to have answers, pushing the lead back to double-digits at 70-59 with just under four minutes remaining.

Northwest was plagued by slow scoring and couldn’t get closer than six points, resulting in a 72-64 loss.

Across most statistical categories the contest was even; however, the Trappers were outrebounded 41-23 by the Thunderbirds in the game — an area Davis continues to emphasize with her team.

“They had 17 offensive rebounds and that’s the game right there,” Davis said. “That has been an emphasis for a long time and I am hoping we can have a click in our brains at some point that rebounding has been our biggest problem all year.”

Roxanne Rogers led with 17 points, Kamalani Anitielu had 16 points while Bianca Silva had a strong night across the board with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.

WESTERN WYOMING 73, NORTHWEST 65

In another key late season contest, Northwest welcomed the Mustangs (12-16 overall, 7-3 Region IX North) to Powell on Saturday.

Northwest came out stronger, using a late first quarter push to hold a 14-8 lead heading into the second.

That momentum continued, as the Trappers capped an 11-0 stretch and built a 20-8 lead less than two minutes in.

Western did not lie down, battling throughout the quarter and slightly chipping away at the lead to the tune of a 30-23 halftime score.

Northwest came out strong in the third quarter, scoring eight straight and building its largest lead of the game after an Anitielu 3-pointer with 8:37 left in the third.

Western responded with a run of its own, quickly cutting the lead down to four after an 11-0 run over the next three minutes.

The Trappers continued to hang on to the lead until late in the third quarter after four straight free throws from Western gave the Mustangs a 46-45 lead.

“We had the lead and then once we lost it we couldn’t crawl back,” Davis said.

The visitors quickly made it a 48-45 scoreline going into the fourth.

Northwest tied the score several times early in the final frame, but the Mustangs extended the lead out to as many as nine multiple times en route to a 73-65 victory.

“It came down to rebounding. We did better against their offensive boards; they only had four, but getting more defensive rebounds means they get more possessions,” Davis said.

Northwest was outrebounded 37-25 in the contest. 

Rogers led once again with 27 points, Anitielu had 12, Silva had 10 and led with six assists.

Carolina Ruiz led with five rebounds while Anitielu tied for the team lead with three steals alongside Tayva Phillips.

FINAL GAME AND POSTSEASON

Heading into the final week of the regular season the Trappers only control part of their destiny — win on Saturday at Gillette College (13-15 overall, 2-8 Region IX North) at 2 p.m. and have a chance at a home play-in game.

“They will definitely be looking for revenge against us, it was a close game last time,” Davis said. 

Northwest currently sits at No. 5 in the standings, just behind Laramie County Community College (11-15 overall, 4-6 Region IX North).

Those two teams split contests but LCCC holds the tiebreaker with a victory against Western Wyoming this season.

The Trappers will need to win along with the Golden Eagles losing both of their final home games on Friday and Saturday against the Mustangs and Thunderbirds.

Northwest has a spot locked up in the postseason, but could also fall to the No. 6 seed in addition to being the No. 4 or 5 seed if Gillette wins both of its games this week due to the Pronghorns having swept LCCC this year.

CASPER COLLEGE 72, NORTHWEST 64

Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()

Points — Roxanne Rogers 17, Kamalani Anitielu 16, Bianca Silva 15, Carolina Ruiz 8, Tayva Phillips 6, Selen Ucak 2

Rebounds — Bianca Silva 6 (2), Kamalani Anitielu 4 (2), Isabella Gurie 4 (3), Tayva Phillips 3, Roxanne Rogers 3, Carolina Ruiz 2, Kelsi Nicholson 1

Assists — Bianca Silva 5, Roxanne Rogers 3, Kamalani Anitielu 2, Anna Knight 1, Carolina Ruiz 1, Selen Ucak 1, Isabella Gurie 1

Steals — Bianca Silva 5, Tayva Phillips 2, Kamalani Anitielu 1, Kelsi Nicholson 1, Carolina Ruiz 1

Blocks — Roxanne Rogers 1

WESTERN WYOMING 73, NORTHWEST 65

Points — Roxanne Rogers 27, Kamalani Anitielu 12, Bianca Silva 10, Tayva Phillips 7, Carolina Ruiz 7, Anna Knight 2

Rebounds — Carolina Ruiz 5, Tayva Phillips 4 (2), Roxanne Rogers 4, Anna Knight 4 (1), Kamalani Anitielu 3 (1), Kelsi Nicholson 3, Bianca Silva 2

Assists — Bianca Silva 6, Roxanne Rogers 4, Tayva Phillips 2, Carolina Ruiz 2

Steals — Tayva Phillips 3, Kamalani Anitielu 3, Roxanne Rogers 1, Bianca Silva 1, Carolina Ruiz 1

REGION IX STANDINGS

(as of Wednesday morning, Feb. 28)

1. Casper College — 23-5 overall, 9-1 Region IX North

2. Eastern Wyoming — 14-13 overall, 8-2 Region IX North

3. Western Wyoming — 12-16 overall, 7-3 Region IX North

4. Laramie County — 11-15 overall, 4-6 Region IX North

5. Northwest — 15-13 overall, 4-7 Region IX North

6. Gillette College — 13-15 overall, 2-8 Region IX North

7. Central Wyoming — 9-20 overall, 2-9 Region IX North