The Snow College women's basketball team earned a trio of victories last week to improve to 7-0 overall to begin the season.  The Badgers have climbed into the NJCAA Women's Basketball Division I Poll after the best start to a season in 10 years.
 
Snow College entered the week off the heels of the Western Wyoming Classic in Rock Springs, Wyoming.  The Badgers earned a 79-71 victory over the host school Western Wyoming Community College before securing a 77-54 win against NJC.
 
The Badgers had one of their best shooting performances of the young season.  They shot 49 percent from the field and went 6-17(.353) from beyond the arc.  They also handed out 28 total assists for just the second time this season.
 
Snow College got out to a quick start and scored 23 points in each of the first two quarters.  The Badgers took a 46-24 lead into the halftime break.  The scoring barrage continued in the second half as the Badgers cruised to a 93-75 victory.
 
Four Badgers scored in double figures, led by a career-high from Hadley Richens, who finished with 18 points on 8-13/2-5 shooting.  Madison Hosino had a season-high 15 points and added 5 rebounds.  Reigning Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Week Brooke Pennington added 13 points while Iyana Beh chipped in 11 in the win.  Lili Suguturaga narrowly missed a double-double as she finished with 9 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Snow College turned around and played the Rustlers again two nights later in the first game of the Eagle Classic in Price.  The Badgers dominated and handed CWC one of the most lopsided losses in program history.  Snow College did not surrender a single point in the first quarter and outscored the Rustlers 16-0.
 
After taking a 37-13 lead into halftime, the Badgers had a similar performance defensively in the third quarter gaining a 15-3 advantage.  They allowed just 10 points in the fourth quarter to earn a 71-26 victory.  The fewest points the Rustlers have scored in program history is 23.
 
Hosino nearly duplicated her first performance as she finished with 14 points and 5 rebounds.  Kiriana Hawaikirangi scored 12 points while Sydnee Smith had 10 points and seven rebounds, both career highs.
 
Following the victory, Snow College faced NJC in their third game in four nights.  Things started a little rocky for the Badgers as they scored just 6 points in the first quarter.  They did cut into the deficit slightly but entered halftime trailing, 22-18.
 
The Badgers erased the deficit in just over a minute to start the third quarter, but an 11-2 Plainsmen run extended the lead to nine, their largest of the game.  Snow College outscored NJC 12-3 over the final five minutes of the quarter to tie the game at 42 entering the fourth.
 
The Badgers started the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run – a 16-0 run in total going back to the third quarter.  They continued the offensive onslaught and outscored the Plainsmen 27-4 in the fourth quarter to earn a 69-46 victory.
 
Iyana Beh had arguably her best performance as a Badger with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double, both career highs.  Maliyah Elliott chipped in 13 points, while Hosino added 11 points.  Pennington flirted with a triple-double as she finished with 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assist to aid in the victory.
 
The Badgers will conclude their 8-game road swing at the New Mexico Junior College Tournament in Hobbs, New Mexico.  They will take on No. 3 New Mexico Junior College Thursday at 6:00 p.m.  They will then face Otero Junior College Friday at 4:00 p.m. before wrapping up the 3-day tournament against McCook Community College Saturday at 12:00 p.m.  For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.