Plainswomen Show Flashes but Fall to Lamar, 73-62

NORTHEASTERN JUNIOR COLLEGE – Northeastern Junior College’s Plainswomen women’s basketball team showed stretches of strong play but could not sustain enough consistency in a 73-62 home loss to Lamar on Saturday at the Bank of Colorado Event Center.

Lamar seized control early, using a surge after the first media timeout of the opening quarter to build the first significant separation of the night. Each time Northeastern threatened to close the gap, Lamar answered with another scoring run, keeping the Plainswomen at arm’s length despite several momentum swings in favor of the home side.

Northeastern’s best stretches came when the defense strung together stops and turned them into transition opportunities. The Plainswomen chipped away at the deficit multiple times, cutting into Lamar’s lead with active hands on the perimeter and better ball pressure. However, each push was met by timely baskets from Lamar, which responded with perimeter shooting and second-chance points to restore a working margin.

Offensively, the Plainswomen were led by guard Madison Sepeda, who finished with a team-high 15 points and provided steady scoring from the perimeter. Forward Daniela Garcia Gasco delivered one of the most complete efforts of the night, posting 13 points and 9 rebounds as she battled on the glass and gave Northeastern an interior presence. Guard Rebekah Seggerman added 8 points and 6 rebounds, helping the Plainswomen extend possessions and limit Lamar to one shot during Northeastern’s best defensive sequences.

Despite those standout efforts, offensive lulls proved costly. Northeastern saw promising possessions break down into empty trips, while Lamar capitalized on its opportunities to stretch the lead back to double digits. Missed chances around the basket and a few breakdowns in half-court defense allowed Lamar to maintain control in the second half, even as the Plainswomen continued to battle.

Northeastern closed with energy, continuing to attack the paint and the offensive glass, but the early separation created after the first-quarter media timeout ultimately defined the contest. The 73-62 final reflected a night of “moments of greatness, but not enough for the win” for the Plainswomen, who will look to build on the positive stretches as they continue through the January slate.

The Plainswomen return to action with a road matchup at Western Nebraska on Jan. 10 before resuming Region IX play later in the month. The performances of Sepeda, Garcia Gasco and Seggerman against Lamar provided a foundation the team will aim to carry forward into the upcoming stretch.