Garcia Gasco leads Northeastern JC past Trinidad State, 67-52

TRINIDAD, Colo. — Northeastern Junior College used a dominant middle stretch and a balanced attack from its frontcourt to pull away from Trinidad State for a 67-52 road victory on Saturday at the Freudenthal Library.

Forward Daniela Garcia Gasco paced the Plainswomen with an all-around performance, finishing with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists as Northeastern took control in the second quarter and never eased up. Once the Plainswomen seized momentum, they did not take their foot off the pedal, steadily building the margin and keeping Trinidad State at arm’s length the rest of the way.

Northeastern established its advantage inside early, using size and activity on the glass to generate second-chance opportunities and limit Trinidad State to one shot. Garcia Gasco and fellow forward Riley Phelps helped the Plainswomen turn defensive stops into transition looks, forcing Trinidad State to play from behind after the opening quarter and into halftime. Northeastern’s pressure on the ball and disciplined rotations kept the hosts out of rhythm, holding Trinidad State to just 52 points on its home floor.

Phelps delivered a career outing, posting a career-high 12 points to go with 8 rebounds. Her work on the boards was a key part of Northeastern’s pivotal run in the middle quarters, as the Plainswomen turned long rebounds into quick-hitting offense. Guards stayed active in passing lanes, and Northeastern’s ability to contest shots without fouling allowed the Plainswomen to control tempo and limit free-throw opportunities for Trinidad State.

The Plainswomen also received major production from the rest of the rotation. Madison Sepeda added 11 points and 8 rebounds, frequently sparking Northeastern with hard drives to the basket and timely put-backs. Monique Sena gave the lineup another reliable scoring option with 10 points while matching the rebounding emphasis with 8 boards of her own, helping Northeastern dominate the glass and sustain its lead through the fourth quarter.

With Northeastern’s advantage in rebounding and interior scoring firmly established out of halftime, Trinidad State struggled to mount a serious run. Whenever the hosts threatened to cut into the deficit, the Plainswomen answered with key defensive stands or a basket from Garcia Gasco or Phelps to restore control. Northeastern’s consistent effort on both ends ensured that Trinidad State never found the decisive surge it needed at home.

The 67-52 win gives Northeastern valuable momentum in January play and showcases the depth of its frontcourt production. With Garcia Gasco setting the tone and multiple players nearing double-doubles, the Plainswomen used this road result to build confidence heading into the next stretch of Region IX competition.