Pirates sink SWCC women, 71-55

It seemed like everything was on track for the Southwestern women early in Tuesday’s home game against North Central Missouri College.

Freshman guard Vanessa Romo hit a 3-pointer on the game’s first possession and Jasmine Aviles drove across the lane for a lay-in to forge a 7-4 lead over the Lady Pirates.

After that promising start, the Spartans played from behind the rest of the night in a 71-55 loss.

Right after holding a 37-28 halftime lead, North Central bolstered its advantage with a 7-2 run to start the second half. By the end of the third quarter, the Spartans were on the short end of a 57-39 score.

A brief 11-4 spurt in the fourth quarter shaved it back to 13 points (63-50), but the Lady Pirates weathered that storm and outscored the Spartans 8-5 in the final 4:21.

“In the first quarter I thought we came out the right way. We were executing defensively, taking away their high-low stuff inside,” Southwestern coach Addae Houston said. “We were forcing them to kick it out and kept the game close.”

But, a cold shooting night hampered the Spartans in falling to 3-3 for the season. North Central improved to 7-2.

“We battled through the first half even though we weren’t shooting the ball well,” Houston said. “Then we got into the third quarter and on their first offensive possession we gave up the high-low look. Then for awhile we got lost in the zone and stood there and watched them rebound the ball. A big part of our game plan no matter who we play is to defend and rebound.”

The fourth-year Southwestern coach said this is the best North Central Missouri College team he has coached against. Starting post player Madison Gonseth, sophomore from Murray, said the Lady Pirates are encouraged by their successful start.

“We’re 7-2 now. I’m hoping we can do really well in our region this year and make it to nationals,” Gonseth said. “The last time we went was 2006, I think.”

Gonseth said she enjoyed playing so close to home Tuesday, and had several supporters in the crowd including her high school coaches, Jerry Shields and Chris Robins.

“I love playing here,” said Gonseth, who finished with four points and several rebounds. “All my friends from high school who go here, they were here along with their families. All of my family was here. When we drove past Murray today I said, ‘Hey everyone! Look! Look fast!’ It’s always fun to play here and now we just have to keep things going.”

Guard Kendey Eaton and center Sarah Lamp each scored 13 points to lead a balanced North Central offense.

Freshman Tina Lair van-Meter netted 14 points to lead Southwestern. Aviles finished with 12 points and Romo ended with 10.

UP NEXT — The Spartans play their second game of the year against Little Priest Tribal College Saturday at Winnebago, Nebraska, before traveling to Trenton, Missouri for another matchup with North Central College next Wednesday.

NCMC (71) — 19 18 20 14

SWCC (55) — 15 13 11 16

NORTH CENTRAL (FG FT PTS) — Totals — 24 12-16 71. Sarah Lampe 5 3-3 13, Kendey Eaton 5 3-3 13, Ashtin Williams 6 0-0 12, Samm Jett 3 1-2 9, Maddison Book 2 3-4 7, Nicole Kost 2 0-0 6, Whitley Richman 1 2-4 4, Madison Gonseth 2 0-0 4, Hailey Burrows 1 0-0 3. 3-point goals — 5 (Jett 2, Kost 2, Burrows 1). Team fouls — 12. Fouled out — None.

SOUTHWESTERN (FG FT PTS) — Totals — 22 3-7 55. Tina Lair van-Meter 6 2-3 14, Jasmine Aviles 6 0-0 12, Vanessa Romo 4 0-0 10, Fallyn Beemer 3 1-2 7, Chelsey Trautloff 1 0-0 5, Keaundra Washington 1 0-0 5, T’Keyah Stapleton 1 0-2 2. 3-point goals — 4 (Romo 2, Washington 1, Trautloff 1). Team fouls — 15. Fouled out — None.