Women Central 74   Northwest 69

Men Northwest 89   Central 83

Central basketball teams split a pair of conference games at Northwest College in Powell on Wednesday night.  The women jumped out to a 12 point lead after one and hung on for their second conference win.  The men's team battled back and forth with the Trappers all night and, unfortunately, fell down the stretch.

The Rustler women raced out to a 22 to 10 lead on the 2-17 Trappers.  That lead would be erased over the course of the next two periods, as Northwest tied the game at 45 late in the third.   Central would use an 18 to 5 run to answer and get back up by double digits.  Northwest would again get the score to one possession but free throws by Tamia Cutignola and Kiana Walker would ice the second straight conference win for CWC.  Cutignola was 4 for 4 in the final 15 seconds from the free throw line while Walker was 2 for 2.

Paulani Tarawa scored 17 in the first half, and ended with 19.   Essy Latu also scored 19 and went 7 for 7 from the free throw line. Rylee Burmester added 14 before fouling out with just under five minutes left in the game.  Central would commit 19 turnovers, gave up 12 offensive rebounds and missed 12 free throws but still managed the road win. After the game coach Lindsey Fearing said, "A win is a win, especially on the road.  We had to battle adversity the entire game. I was pleased that when they made their runs, we had an answer each time."

CWC men used an 8-0 run at the 8 minute mark to take their first lead of the game.  CWC led 41 to 39 at the break.  The second half saw teams trade scoring runs and technical fouls and the game was tied at 76 with five minutes left to play.  Northwest outscored the Rustlers 13 to 7 from that point and won 89-83.  Connor Nelson led the Rustlers with 20 points off the bench.  Coach Brad Schmit after the game said, "The one thing we have had in a majority of our games this season is effort and toughness.  Tonight we lacked both."

He gave credit to Northwest for being prepared and engaged the entire game, "their kids wanted it more than us and proved it in their play."

*Men's Notes  

• Central's men are 3-2 in league play and end a 3 game win streak
• Northwest had 26 assists in the win
• Four players had 13 points each for CWC:  David Simental, James Woods, Devin Rottweiler and Jacob Smith  
• The CWC men will host Sheridan on Saturday the 26th.  The Sheridan men are ranked #10 in the country

*Women's Notes:

• Central is 2-3 in league play and has won 2 straight games   
• The win stopped a streak of five straight wins by Northwest.  The modern day series with the Trappers now stands at 13 and 8 in favor of Northwest.   
• With Tarawa's 19 points tonight,  she draws within 22 of the #1 spot on the modern day leading scorer    
• Rylee Burmester needs to make 10 more free throws to overtake the #1 spot in modern day records for made free throws in a season

CWC Up Next:  

Saturday, January 26th CWC will host Sheridan at 2pm and 4pm.  Sheridan's mens team ranks #10 in the latest NJCAA men's basketball poll.