Sena’s 18 Not Enough as Northeastern Falls 60-47 at Lamar

Lamar, Colo. — Northeastern Junior College opened with a strong early surge but could not sustain the momentum, falling 60-47 to Lamar on Sunday afternoon in Lamar.

The Plainswomen jumped out to a 10-3 lead behind aggressive offense and active work on the glass, setting the tone in the opening minutes. Lamar responded with composure, gradually chipping away at the deficit and taking control as the first half wore on. From that point forward, Northeastern struggled to keep pace offensively, as Lamar’s defense limited clean looks and turned stops into scoring opportunities the other way.

Guard Monique Sena led Northeastern with an efficient scoring effort, finishing with a game-high 18 points to go along with four rebounds. Sena provided much of the offensive spark, keeping the Plainswomen within striking distance with timely baskets as Lamar attempted to pull away. Her ability to create off the dribble and get to the rim helped Northeastern weather several Lamar runs, particularly in the middle quarters.

Forward Riley Phelps added balance in the frontcourt, contributing seven points and a team-high eight rebounds. Phelps’ work on the boards, especially on the defensive glass, helped limit Lamar to one shot on numerous possessions. Northeastern’s effort on the interior was a bright spot overall, as the Plainswomen battled throughout the night to control the paint and stay competitive on the road.

Rebounding was a collective strength for Northeastern. Daniela Garcia Gasco pulled down 10 rebounds to anchor the interior, while Veronica Baray added eight rebounds from the guard spot, showcasing toughness on the defensive end. Off the bench and in rotational minutes, both Rebekah Seggerman and Jiselle Sales chipped in six rebounds apiece, underscoring the team’s depth and commitment to crashing the glass despite the offensive challenges.

After the early 10-3 burst, Lamar’s defensive adjustments began to dictate the tempo. The hosts tightened their pressure on the perimeter, disrupted passing lanes and forced the Plainswomen into difficult shots late in the shot clock. As Northeastern’s scoring slowed, Lamar put together decisive runs in the second and third quarters, building a cushion that held up through the fourth quarter despite continued effort from the Plainswomen to close the gap.

The loss drops Northeastern to 47 points in the contest against Lamar’s 60, but the Plainswomen leave with clear positives on the glass and several standout individual performances. With a quick turnaround before returning home to face North Platte, Northeastern will look to build on the rebounding dominance and early-game energy shown in Lamar, aiming to translate those stretches into a more complete four-quarter effort.