Christmas came early for the Trapper women’s basketball team.

In their final game before the winter break, Northwest College (7-8) hosted a Friday rematch with the Dawson Community College Buccaneers (10-5). After blowing a late lead to the Buccaneers and falling 70-64 in November, the Trappers were looking for — and got — revenge.

NWC came out fast with 11 points by freshmen Darla Hernandez and Brenna Rouane. That gave the Trappers an 11-2 lead just three minutes into the game.

“I was so impressed with the amount of energy we came out with,” Trapper head coach Lauren Davis said. “That set the precedent for the entire game.”

The hot start continued through the first quarter, as the Trappers took a 20-9 lead. The teams battled back and forth throughout most of the second quarter, but the Trappers were able to stretch the lead to 34-20 with two minutes remaining in the half. It was 37-28 at halftime.

“The first half was the best half of basketball we have played as a team,” Davis said.

The second half did not start well for Northwest.

Hernandez continued her scoring output, but the Trappers lost one of their top offensive options in freshman Nayeli Acosta, who committed her fourth foul just three minutes into the half.

The Trappers led by eight points at 51-43 until sophomore Kierra Cutright picked up her fourth foul of the game just before the end of the third quarter.

“I think having Nayeli [Acosta] and Kierra [Cutright] in foul trouble actually did something great for our team; our bench players needed to step up to keep a lead and win the game,” Davis said. “That’s exactly what happened. I’m proud of everyone.”

The Trappers made only 2-of-10 shots from the field in the quarter was 2-10, but went an impressive 10-11 from the free throw line. That allowed them to maintain a 51-44 advantage going into the fourth quarter.

The start of the fourth quarter was all Buccaneers, while Acosta fouled out with 6:58 remaining.

“I think not having Nayeli [Acosta] score makes everyone realize how important it is for them to show up and do their part and know their role,” Davis said.

A 6-0 run where Dawson controlled the boards and got to the free throw line pulled the game to within a point at 51-50 with 6:30 remaining in the contest.

“We lost in the rebounding category,” Davis said. “They came back because we couldn’t rebound and they kept getting second chance points.”

Northwest pushed the lead back to six points over the next two minutes as they looked to hold off the Buccaneers.

Cutright fouled out with 3:46 remaining and Dawson made another push, pulling the game back to two points at 61-59 with 2:16 left.

Neither team was able to find the basket over the next minute, but a free throw by Hernandez and a steal leading to a layup by Rouane put Northwest up by five with 55 seconds left.

The Trappers would not give up the lead this time, holding off Dawson 69-64 and finishing with a win going into the winter break.

“I think this win proved the importance of grit and toughness,” Davis said. “This was a great win for us as a whole leading into break and region play.”

The Trappers were again led in scoring by Hernandez, who finished with 21 points. Hernandez scored 20 points for the second consecutive game and is averaging 19 over her last three. She was joined in double-digit scoring by freshman Kiana Quintero, who had 14, and Rouane, who finished with 11.

Cutright and Hernandez finished with seven rebounds apiece, followed by Rouane with five.

Northwest will now have a three-week break before their next competition on Jan. 13 at home. The contest against Miles City will be the team’s final non-conference game, before kicking off their Region IX schedule in Casper a week later.