NEWCASTLE – The Wheatland Lady Bulldogs found themselves behind early and were unable to recover Friday on the road against the Lady Dogies, falling in a quadrant matchup, 53-43.
Newcastle used the slow start by Wheatland to open the game on a 14-5 run. A solid second quarter by the Lady Bulldogs brought the game to within three at the halftime horn, but the Lady Dogies continued to add distance in the second half to seal the 10-point win.
“We improved as the game went on, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the first quarter hole we dug,” coach Sally Nichols said.
Danielle Brow had a stat line to remember, pouring in 24 points, including five from the free-throw line and three from behind the arc, where she hit the team’s only three-pointer. Brow finished the game with eight rebounds, including four offensive, and team-highs with four assists and six steals.
“Danielle Brow worked hard to find seams in Newcastle’s zone and earned every point with effort,” Nichols said.
Behind Brow, Khayla Otero racked up seven points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Destiny Cook chipped in six points, a board and an assist. Loren Mann accounted for four points, a board and an assist.
Miranda Hanks was a force on the boards, coming down with 11 rebounds, including five offensive, two points and an assist.
As a team, the Lady Bulldogs shot 29 percent from the floor, hitting 1-of-8 from behind the arc and 16-of-50 of their two-point shots. They went to the line for 11 free throws, knocking down eight. Newcastle made a trip to the line for 31 free throws.
“We need to get our outside shooting going and get to the free throw line,” Nichols said.
The loss drops Wheatland to 2-11 on the year, with a 1-3 record against quadrant opponents, which is the same quadrant record that Newcastle has after Friday’s game. The Lady Bulldogs look to snap their three-game losing streak Friday when they host Thermopolis, followed by a home game Saturday against Worland.
