Pronghorn women claim Region IX title with four straight tournament wins
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 | 14 | 20 | 19 | 63 |
|
12 | 16 | 26 | 25 | 79 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12 | 14 | 24 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 82 |
|
15 | 17 | 28 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 80 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
22 | 15 | 22 | 21 | 80 |
|
8 | 24 | 24 | 17 | 73 |
Team Stats
Laramie County Community College
| Game Statistics | Laramie County Community College | Gillette College |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (25-74) | (28-66) |
| Field Goal % | 33.8% | 42.4% |
| Rebounds | 39 | 44 |
| Assists | 11 | 15 |
| Turnovers | 18 | 13 |
Western Wyoming Community College
| Game Statistics | Gillette College | Western Wyoming Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (33-80) | (30-78) |
| Field Goal % | 41.3% | 38.5% |
| Rebounds | 42 | 43 |
| Assists | 27 | 25 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 17 |
Northwest College
| Game Statistics | Gillette College | Northwest College |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (27-51) | (27-72) |
| Field Goal % | 52.9% | 37.5% |
| Rebounds | 36 | 39 |
| Assists | 20 | 11 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 12 |
By PRESTON ZBROSZCZYK NEWS RECORD SPORTS EDITOR preston@gillettenewsrecord.net
For the first time since 2016, and the second time in the program's history, the Gillette College women's basketball team is the Region IX champion.
Liz Lewis's team started the Region IX tournament at the Pronghorn Center with a 90-72 win to advance to the quarterfinals.
The rest of the tournament, Gillette College would be in Rock Springs.
In two regular-season meetings, the Pronghorns blew out LCCC by 32 and 35 points. Laramie County finished the regular season 1-11 in conference, but they weren't a team to take lightly.
Gillette College would end up beating Laramie County 79-63. Lina Ballin led the team with 25 points, six assists and six steals. Rochelle Afo-Manuma had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. She added four steals and three assists.
Danae Asiata and Kiyarra Williams also were in double figures with 12 and 14 points, respectively.
This advanced the Pronghorns to the semifinals against Western Wyoming, the host team. The Pronghorns lost to them on the road but beat them at home in the regular season.
In the third quarter, both teams combined for 52 points, with Western Wyoming leading 60-50. But in the fourth quarter, the Pronghorns held the home team to just 8 points while scoring 18, and the game went into overtime tied at 68-68.
After both teams scored six in the first overtime, the Pronghorns outscored Western Wyoming 8-6 in the second overtime to come out on top, 82-80.
The team shot 40% from three, making eight of their 20 attempts. Afo-Manuma had another double-double with 20 points and 18 rebounds. Ballin had 20 points, eight assists and four steals. Asiata had 11 points, Georgina Sosa Sio scored 14, including four three-pointers, and Williams had 17 points and nine boards.
In the Region IX title game, the Pronghorns played Northwest College, another team they split with in the regular season. Gillette was victorious, 80-73, to win the conference title.
Afo-Manuma was named tournament MVP for her performance.
With the win, Gillette College earned an automatic bid to the NJCAA Division I women's tournament, which will be held at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
