TRAPPER WOMEN SPLIT BUSY WEEK

BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune

Battling in a busy week at home, the Northwest College women's basketball team split its four matchups, losing to Eastern Arizona College 71-64 and Williston State College 88-86 while defeating United Tribes Technical College 83-69 and the Rocky Mountain College JV 104-42.      

EASTERN ARIZONA 71, NORTHWEST 64
Starting the week with a top rated opponent the Trappers (8-3) welcomed in the NJCAA No. 6-ranked Gila Monsters (7-1).
After the first 3:30 minutes, the two teams were tied at six each, the Trappers broke things open, taking the lead and extending it out to double digits in the first quarter.
Northwest ended with a 22-10 advantage heading into the second.
"I think we came out ready to play. We were fired up for that game and really kind of hitting on all cylinders there for a while," coach Cody Helenbolt said. "Probably some of the best that we played."
The Trappers pushed that lead to as many as 18 at 30-12 just past the midway point of the quarter, but Northwest's scoring slowed down and a jumper at the buzzer for the visitors had the lead down to 36-23 at the break.
Eastern Arizona came out of the locker room and immediately cut into the lead, shaving it down to just four at 40-36 before the midway point of the quarter.
The visitors kept pushing, and eventually tied the game at 47 before claiming the lead 49-47 just before the end of the quarter and they held that advantage going into the final frame.
Northwest reclaimed the lead early in the fourth, before the two teams battled back-and-forth in the final minutes.
The Trappers kept things close, only trailing 62-61 with 3:34 remaining, before a quick 5-0 run created separation for the Gila Monsters.
A 3-pointer by Isabella Williams made it a three-point contest with 1:21 remaining, but the Trappers got no closer as they fell 71-64 and saw their win streak snapped at six.
"They (Eastern Arizona) started doing what they usually do, and kind of caught fire," Helenbolt said. "We lost track of their All-American which was frustrating … Overall, super proud of the effort, I wish we could have got that one. But it was really fun — big crowd, having such a good team here."
Williams led with 13 points just ahead of Madison Kaufman with 12.
Williams added 10 rebounds to complete her double-double, Jaila Childress led with four assists and Williams had the lone block in the game.      

NORTHWEST 83, UNITED TRIBES 69
Kicking off the Coach Collins Heart of a Champion Classic on Friday the Trappers welcomed in the Thunderbirds (6-5), looking for their second win over the visitors this season.
United Tribes came out with a 5-0 start before the Trappers went on a 6-0 run capped off by a Kaufman layup to take the lead and force a timeout.
Northwest capitalized on that advantage and pushed it out further to 19-13 heading into the second.
The visitors kept things close midway through the second, using 3-pointers to remain within striking distance at 30-27.
United Tribes tied the game, before the Trappers found a way to pull ahead heading into the break capped off by a Saige Kidd layup to lead 41-36.
Northwest quickly expanded its lead in the second half, making it a double-digit advantage after a Kaufman steal and layup to make it 48-37 with 7:33 remaining.
The Trapper bench built the advantage further, making it a 20 point lead at 61-41 after an Elise Swan 3-pointer with three minutes remaining.
"The bench came in and did a great job," Helenbolt said. "We started off the third quarter pretty well, and then we subbed in and actually played even better … Awesome to see Saige knock down a couple threes."
Itziar Pozas ended the third quarter with a layup and made it 72-45 heading into the fourth.
The visitors got as close as 14 in the fourth quarter but Northwest finished at that advantage with an 83-69 win.
McKinlee Covolo led with 14 points and eight rebounds, Williams led with four assists, Kaufman and Covolo had three steals each and Covolo had the lone block.     

WILLISTON STATE 88, NORTHWEST 86
The Trappers welcomed in the Tetons (9-1) in another difficult matchup in their third game in three days.
The visitors came out strong, taking a 5-0 lead, before Northwest went on a 16-0 run powered by 10 from Covolo to make it 16-5.
"We did a good job feeding her the ball, and then they switched to a 2-3 zone," Helenbolt said. "Haven't seen that in a game so far this year, didn't adjust on the fly well. Just kind of stopped looking inside."
The Trappers were up 23-12 midway through the first quarter, and held a 32-24 lead after the first.
That lead held throughout the second quarter, as Northwest led 51-40 heading into the break.
Williston immediately cut the lead down to single digits in the third, as the visitors went on a 7-0 run and forced a Northwest timeout.
Northwest held its lead before the visitors eventually tied it at 58 midway through, and the two teams exchanged leads until the Trappers led 68-67 heading into the fourth.
The visitors claimed the lead early in the fourth and expanded upon it, leading 85-80 before a chaotic finish.
Addison Hickey's layup cut it to 85-83 with 29.5 seconds left.
The Trappers forced a jump ball, and Childress sank a 3-pointer on the wing to take the lead 86-85. 
Childress was fouled on the play, but during the celebration the Trapper bench was hit with a technical which gave the visitors two free throws.
"You've gotta keep your head," Helenbolt said of the technical.
Childress missed her free throw, and Williston made both to make it an 87-86 scoreline with 11 seconds left.
Northwest fouled, but Williston missed both free throws.
After a timeout, the Trappers drew up a play for a shot, but  were unable to make it and the Tetons rebounded it and were fouled.
Williston went 1-2 at the line, and the Trappers had one final chance to score but the shot was not off in time as Northwest fell 88-86.
"They're a good team. They're 9-1, good effort by our kids," Helenbolt said. 
Covolo led with 24 points and 13 rebounds for a double double, Kaufman had 15 points, Childress had 14 points while Hickey and Williams each had 11.
Kaufman had eight assists and three steals while Williams and Covolo each had a block.     

NORTHWEST 104, ROCKY MOUNTAIN JV 42
Wrapping up the busy week at home, the Trappers welcomed in the Battlin' Bears on Tuesday night.
Northwest scored early and often against the visitors, building a double digit lead in the first and leading 25-8 heading into the second quarter.
The Trappers quickly made it 20, then 30 in the second quarter before completely running away from the visitors in the second half with a 104-42 victory.
"We just have a good overall team with depth and kids that can compete. We're still learning, we still have moments where you can tell these guys haven't played for me for two years. We're still kind of new to it a little bit, but I'm happy where we're at and they're just really awesome kids," Helenbolt said. "It was nice to see all of them kind of being able to contribute and have a fun game like that."
Stats from the Rocky Mountain game were unavailable as of press time.

SMALL BREAK
Due to playing one extra game over the weekend the Trapper women now have the upcoming Thanksgiving break off, not taking the court again until games in Rock Springs on Dec. 5-6.
"Just enjoy time off. Get away from it for a little bit, but keep themselves in shape and be ready to roll to Rock Springs in a couple of weeks," Helenbolt said.          

EASTERN ARIZONA 71, NORTHWEST 64
Total rebounds then offensive rebounds in ()
Points — Isabella Williams 13, Madison Kaufman 12, Emma Pique 9, McKinlee Covolo 9, Jaila Childress 8, Addison Hickey 7, Fallon Millican 4, Itziar Pozas 2
Rebounds — Isabella Williams 10 (1), Addison Hickey 6, McKinlee Covolo 3 (2), Jaila Childress 2, Fallon Millican 2, Emma Pique 1 (1), Madison Kaufman 1, Itziar Pozas 1
Assists — Jaila Childress 4, Isabella Williams 2, Madison Kaufman 2, Emma Pique 1
Blocks — Isabella Williams 1

NORTHWEST 83, UNITED TRIBES 69
Points — McKinlee Covolo 14, Madison Kaufman 12, Jaila Childress 10, Fallon Millican 10, Isabella Williams 9, Saige Kidd 8, Elise Swan 6, Itziar Pozas 6, Canyon Britt 3, Maddie Mills 3, Addison Hickey 2
Rebounds — McKinlee Covolo 8 (5), Isabella Williams 6 (3), Madison Kaufman 5 (3), Addison Hickey 5 (1), Elise Swan 5, Jaila Childress 4, Canyon Britt 4 (1), Saige Kidd 3 (1), Fallon Millican 2 (2), Maddie Mills 1 (1)
Assists — Isabella Williams 4, Jaila Childress 2, McKinlee Covolo 2, Canyon Britt 2, Maddie Mills 2, Elise Swan 1, Fallon Millican 1, Itziar Pozas 1
Steals — Madison Kaufman 3, McKinlee Covolo 3, Isabella Williams 2, Itziar Pozas 2, Elise Swan 1, Maddie Mills 1
Blocks — McKinlee Covolo 1

WILLISTON STATE 88, NORTHWEST 86
Points — McKinlee Covolo 24, Madison Kaufman 15, Jaila Childress 14, Addison Hickey 11, Isabella Williams 11, Canyon Britt 7, Fallon Millican 2, Itziar Pozas 2
Rebounds — McKinlee Covolo 13 (6), Madison Kaufman 8 (2), Addison Hickey 8 (3), Jaila Childress 8 (3), Isabella Williams 6 (3), Fallon Millican 3 (1), Canyon Britt 1, Itziar Pozas 1 (1)
Assists — Madison Kaufman 8, Isabella Williams 3, Elise Swan 3, Jaila Childress 2, McKinlee Covolo 2, Itziar Pozas 2, Canyon Britt 1
Steals — Madison Kaufman 3, Isabella Williams 2, Addison Hickey 1, Jaila Childress 1
Blocks — Isabella Williams 1, McKinlee Covolo 1