Late Rally Falls Short as NJC Plainswomen Drop Sophomore Night Contest to North Platte

Northeastern Junior College’s Plainswomen mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback but fell short on Sophomore Night, dropping a 65-58 decision to North Platte on Thursday at the Bank of Colorado Event Center in Sterling.

Playing in front of a home crowd after a pregame ceremony honoring the team’s sophomores, the Plainswomen started slow and trailed for most of the contest. North Platte controlled the tempo through the first three quarters, building a working margin that Northeastern was forced to chase. The hosts finally found their rhythm in the fourth quarter, stringing together stops and timely baskets to climb back into contention and give themselves a chance to steal the game late.

Freshman guard Monique Sena led Northeastern with 21 points, pacing the offense and keeping the Plainswomen within striking distance. Sena also added five rebounds and two assists, helping initiate the late charge. Her scoring spurts in the second half were instrumental as the Plainswomen cut into North Platte’s lead and shifted momentum toward the home bench in the final quarter.

Forward Daniela Garcia Gasco produced a dominant all-around performance in the paint, finishing with 17 points and a game-high 19 rebounds to go with four assists and two blocks. Garcia Gasco’s work on the glass gave Northeastern repeated second-chance opportunities and limited North Platte to single possessions during the comeback bid. Her interior presence anchored the Plainswomen on both ends, particularly as the defense tightened in the fourth quarter.

Northeastern also received an important boost from its bench, as guard Rebekah Seggerman contributed six points and five rebounds in reserve minutes. Seggerman’s energy and effort on the boards helped stabilize the rotation on a night when every possession mattered. The supporting cast complemented the sophomores’ production, allowing the Plainswomen to make their late push after struggling to find consistent offense earlier in the game.

Despite the resurgence, North Platte made enough plays down the stretch to hold off Northeastern’s rally, converting key possessions and keeping the Plainswomen from fully erasing the deficit. The loss denied Northeastern a chance to solidify fifth place in South Region play, underscoring the stakes attached to the matchup. The effort, however, highlighted the team’s resilience and the impact of its sophomore leaders on an emotional night in Sterling.

As the regular season continues, the Plainswomen will look to build on the defensive intensity and late-game execution shown in the fourth quarter, aiming to turn similar performances into wins in upcoming region contests.