Three MCC women earn post-season honors

Three McCook Community College women’s basketball players received post-season Region IX awards by a vote of coaches.

Sophomore Laia Izquierdo Altimira and freshman Stephanie Nnabuihe (Newbridge, Ireland) were among the 16 players selected to the All-Region IX South team. Sophomore Johanna Gerlach was one of five players named to the south’s All-Defensive team. Izquierdo Altimira was also selected to the Region IX All-Tournament Team.

Lamar Community College Coach Chris Dodfre was named Region IX South Coach of the Year. The Runnin’ Lopes captured the regular-season championship finishing 12-2 in the standings and 20-6 overall. Lamar lost to Northwest College in the semifinals of the Region IX Tournament.

Gillette won the Region IX Tournament beating Northwest College 80-73 after taking down Western Wyoming in double-overtime 82-80 in the semi-finals. (Western Wyoming ended MCC’s season in the quarterfinals with a 65-60 win).

Izquierdo Altimira, (Barcelona, Spain), started all 32 games for the Lady Indians and led MCC in scoring, 13.2 points per game. She averaged 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. The forward shot 41 percent from the field and led all Region IX south players shooting 39.8 percent from the 3-point line. She was an 83.1 percent free-throw shooter (second best in the region).

She scored at least 10 points in 21 games and scored 20 points five times with her season-high coming at Lamar on Jan. 21 when she scored 24 points. She had a season-best 12 rebounds in the opening game of the season against Eastern Wyoming. For her career, she played in 63 games, scoring 626 points, with 318 rebounds, 132 assists and 69 steals.

In being named to the all-tournament team, Izquierdo Altimira scored 12 points with four rebounds in MCC’s first-round 63-62 win over Casper. She made two of five 3-pointers and both her free throws. Against Western Wyoming in the quarterfinals, she scored 18 points and went four-for-five from distance with five boards and two steals.  

Stephanie Nnabuihe (Newbridge, Ireland) played in 25 games and started nine for MCC. She averaged 6.6 rebounds and 7.8 rebounds per game, which led the team and was third most in Region IX South. Against region opponents, she averaged 9.5 rebounds per game. Her 3.9 offensive rebounds per game led all players.

She had a season-high19 points in the Jan. 28 win at home against Western Nebraska. Three days later in Sterling, Colo. she collected a season-best 18 rebounds against Northeastern Junior College. She had six games of double-digit scoring, six games with double-digit rebounds and four double-doubles.

Johanna Gerlach (Hachborn, Germany) started 30 of 31 games for the Lady Indians and averaged 8.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. MCC’s defensive standout also put in a season-high 22 points Jan. 24 against Southeast Community College in Lincoln. She had 39 steals on the season to go along with 265 points and 90 rebounds.

ALL REGION IX-SOUTH TEAM

Amaya Williams, Lamar

Ana Zesati, Lamar

Laia Izquierdo Altimira, McCook

Stephanie Nnabuihe, McCook

Aliyah Herron, North Platte

Daniela Garcia Gasco, Northeastern JC

Itxasne Fernandez Arguello, Otero

Kaelani Albert-Neha, Otero

Candela Roy Ibaibarriaga, Otero

Brooklyn Kaiser, Otero

Makayla Lemelle, Southeast CC

Jasmine McKenzie, Southeast CC

Jada Smith, Southeast CC

Blanca Oranias Ramon, Trinidad State

Ella Chesta-Carty, Western Nebraska

Zozefine Sipolina, Western Nebraska

ALL DEFENSIVE-TEAM REGION IX-SOUTH

Charisma Johnson, Western Nebraska

Amaya Williams, Lamar

Daniela Garcia Gasco, Northeastern JC

Johanna Gerlach, McCook

Jasmine Gilbert, North Platte

REGION IX ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Amaya Williams – Lamar Community College

Austyn Feller – Western Wyoming Community College

Emma Pique – Northwest College

Glorielle Mukeba – Laramie County Community College

Kiyarra Williams – Gillette College

Laia Izquierdo Altimira – McCook Community College

Laura Ring – Central Wyoming College

Lina Ballin – Gillette College

Madison Bush Lewis – Eastern Wyoming College

Madison Kaufman – Northwest College

McKinlee Covolo – Northwest College

Peata Manumaleuga – Western Wyoming Community College

Rochelle Afo-Manuma – Gillette College

MVP: Rochelle Afo-Manuma – Gillette College

Up-to-date information about MCC women’s basketball including livestream links for home games, schedule, statistics, rosters, photos and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com