GILLETTE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team put four in double figures as the Cougars captured a 77-63 win over Miles Community College on the second day of the Border Wars Invite in Gillette, Wyoming, Saturday morning.

                It was the Cougars' fifth straight win and eighth overall as WNCC had a game of two halves.

                The first half, the Cougars played well, racking up 49 points. The second half was a different story with Miles outsourcing the Cougars 31-28.

                Still, the Cougars got the win behind a decent defensive effort and clutch free throws down the stretch for the win.

                WNCC trailed 6-5 in the first quarter but retook the lead on two Ola Duda free throws and then a Duda bucket for a 9-6 lead. Miles trailed 14-11 when the Cougars went on a 9-0 run behind four points from Yara Garcia. WNCC led after one period 26-17.

                The second quarter saw the Cougars jump out to a 36-19 lead behind four points from Duda and a 3-pointer from Jayla Owen. The Cougars went up 15, 40-25 on an Owen bucket. Miles cut the lead to 10, 40-30, but the Cougars went on a 9-0 run to lead 49-30 and led 49-32 at halftime.

                The third quarter was one where WNCC went up 56-37 on an Owen trey and a Duda bucket as they led 61-46 after three periods.

                WNCC was really never threatened in the fourth quarter as the Cougars led 69-50 with five minutes to play. Miles sliced the lead to 12 with 39.1 seconds to play, but it was too late as Duda closed out the scoring with a late bucket.

                Duda led the way on the offense end as the freshman had 17 points with seven field goals. Owen finished with 14 points with two treys and Mackenzie Joseph had 11 points with three 3-pointers. Yara Garcia also had 10 points while Shiho Isono finished with nine points.

                WNCC shot 59% from the field in the first half and were just 30% in the second half.

                WNCC buried six treys in the contest while Miles had 10.

                Miles won the rebound battle 37-35 with Isono, Joseph, and Owen each getting five boards. Isono had nine assists in the win.

                WNCC, 8-3, will wrap up the tourney on Sunday when they face Williston State at 11:45 a.m. before returning home for a home tournament next Friday and Saturday when they face Central Wyoming and Northwest College.

Miles        17 15 14 17 – 63
WNCC (8-3)    26 23 12 16 – 77
WNCC
Ola Duda 17, Jayla Owen 14, Shiho Isono 9, Bre Fowler 7, Mia Jaye Sarkodee-Adoo 4, Yara Garcia 10, Faith Walker 5, Mackenzie Joseph 11.