Otero College Rattlers Face Tough Loss Against Trinidad State College

It was sophomore night at McDivitt Gymnasium. In a tough encounter at their home court on February 25, 2025, the Otero College women's Rattler basketball team succumbed to a 93-64 defeat against rival Trinidad State College in a regular season NJCAA Region 9 showdown. Trinidad State College took control early and maintained their lead throughout. The Rattlers were unable to overcome a hot shooting performance early by Trinidad State. Coach Kyle Herring expressed his sentiments post-game, crediting the sophomores for their dedication. "I want to thank the sophomores for their commitment and dedication to our program. They have come in and worked their butt off for the last two years. Sophomore night is always a special night. I want these sophomores to know how much I appreciate everything they have done. I just wish we could have had a better result for them tonight," said Coach Herring. Despite the loss, several Rattlers put forward commendable performances. Freshman Dayshanay Bruner topped the scoring for Otero with 13 points, followed by sophomore Alyssa Trujillo who contributed 9 points, along with leading assists and steals for the team. Itxasne Fernandez led in rebounds, pulling down 7 boards during the game. The first half concluded with the visiting Trinidad State College holding a commanding 56-33 lead, a margin that stretched further by the end of the match. Otero College found themselves struggling to cut into the lead. Looking ahead, the Rattlers will aim to rebound from this defeat when they face McCook Community College in McCook, Nebraska, on March 1, 2025. As they prepare for their upcoming contest, the Rattlers hope to turn their fortunes around and showcase the resilience typical of their team spirit.