The Western Wyoming Mustangs used a 24-14 3rd quarter advantage to break open a close game and pull away from the Miles Community College Pioneers 74-61 on Saturday in Gillette, WY. MCC got off to a hot start in the first quarter and led by 8 points less that 2 minutes in to the game as Citlalli Gurrolo (San Diego, CA) hit back to back 3's to spark a early 11-3 Pioneer lead. The Mustangs would claw back in to the game tying it up at 21 at the end of a high scoring 1st quarter.
The lead would change hands 3 times in the first half and was tied on 5 separate occasions Western Wyoming got off to a scorching start in the 3rd quarter and built a 14 point lead going to the 4th quarter. The Mustangs would build a 21 point 4th quarter lead before the Pioneers made a small rally late.
Haily Stephens led the way for Western with 20 points (8-21 FG, 1-6 3's, 3-3 FT) and 9 rebounds. 4 Mustangs finished in double figures including Chelsea Gunderson with 15 points (6-8 FG, 3-4 FT) and 8 rebounds. Western Wyoming moved to 3-9 on the season.
The Pioneers fell to 2-11 overall and are currently 0-7 in MonDak Conference play. MCC had 3 players hit double figures on Saturday. Angelina Dimasi (Warooni, Australia) hit for a career high 18 points (6-9 FG, 3-3 3's, 3-4 FT) and 5 rebounds. Aylin Ramirez (Phoenix, AZ) had 11 points (3-6 FG, 0-2 3's, 5-6 FT), 4 rebounds, and 3 assists while Citlalli Gurrola (San Diego, CA) had 10 points (4-15 FG, 2-11 3's). Catalina de Giorgi (Buenos Aires, Argentina) had 8 points and a team high 7 rebounds.
MCC will play Western Nebraska on Sunday night at 6:45 PM in the final game of 2021.
Inside the Box Score
- MCC shot 36% from the field (20-56) and Western Wyoming was 40 % (27-67).
- Neither team shot well from 3-point line as MCC was 8-32 and WWCC was 4-21.
- The Pioneers were 13-20 from the FT Line and were outscored by the Mustangs 16-25 at the line.
- Western Wyoming dominated the rebounding battle 52-33 and that included 21 offensive rebounds.
- Miles had 18 turnovers while WWCC had 17.