The Snow College women's basketball team dropped two of three games at the New Mexico Junior College Classic over the weekend. The lone victory came in a 65-47 result against Otero Junior College.
The Badgers entered the weekend with a perfect 7-0 record, including a pair of victories against Central Wyoming College (71-26) and Northeastern Junior College (69-46). The 7-0 start was the best start to a season since the 2014-15 season.
Snow College got out to a hot start to begin the game against New Mexico Junior College. They made four 3-pointers, two each by
Madison Hosino (So./Layton, UT/Northridge HS) and
Kiriana Hawaikirangi (So./Kalgoorlie, AUS/Eastern Goldfields College), to take a 16-11 lead through the first six minutes of the opening quarter. The Badgers took a 22-16 into the second quarter.
The good shooting in the first quarter disappeared in the second quarter. The Badgers scored just four points and were held scoreless for the final seven minutes of the period. The Thunderbirds led 36-26 at halftime.
Snow College wasn't able to cut into the deficit in the third quarter and trailed by as many as 19. NMJC was able to maintain the advantage and hand the Badgers their first loss of the season, 74-56.
Three Badgers scored in double figures led by Hosino, who finished with 13 points and 4 rebounds.
Brooke Pennington (So./Springville, UT/Springville, HS) added 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
Iyana Beh (So./Murray, UT/Murray HS) added 10 points in the loss.
Snow College was able to rectify the loss as it took on Otero the following day. The Badgers trailed 5-4 early in the game but used a 9-0 run to take an 8-point lead. Five straight points from
Hadley Richins (So./Henefer, UT/North Summit HS) and a pair of free throws from
Sydnee Smith (Fr./Grace, ID/Grace HS) gave the Badgers a 20-8 lead with just over two minutes left in the quarter.
An 8-0 run spanning the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter saw the Badgers lead 30-13. Snow College maintained the momentum throughout the final minutes of the period and took a 44-23 lead into the half.
Snow College scored the first seven points of the third quarter to take a 51-23 lead. The Badgers would eventually extend the lead to as many as 29 points – their largest of the game – before Otero rallied back in the final few minutes of the quarter to cut the deficit to 57-38.
The Badgers stepped up the defense in the fourth quarter. They allowed just nine points throughout the quarter on their way to securing the 65-47 victory.
A balanced scoring attack saw just one Badger score in double figures. Richins finished with 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Six other Badgers scored at least seven points in the victory.
Snow College had a quick turnaround and played McCook Community College the following morning. The Badgers found themselves in a 7-point hole just four minutes into the game. A 7-0 run by the Indians late in the period saw them take a 20-13 lead into the second.
The Badgers were doubled up in the second quarter as they were outscored 24-12 and entered halftime trailing 44-25. Snow College had its best defensive quarter of the game and limited the Indians to just 13 points in the third quarter. The Badgers weren't able to trim the deficit as they also scored 13 points.
Snow College was able to trim the Indians' advantage to as few as 8 points in the fourth quarter but was unable to mount the comeback and suffered the 75-62 loss.
Richins led the Badgers in scoring with 16 points on 5-11/4-7 shooting. Pennington recorded 15 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals while Beh recorded a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double, the second of her career.
The Badgers will now enter a stretch where they will play four of their next five at home, beginning with a pair of matches against Lower Columbia Community College Friday and Saturday. Friday's match is scheduled for 3:00 p.m., with Saturday's game slated to tip at 11:45 a.m. inside the Horne Activity Center. For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.
