Coach Angie Waddell’s Falcons, for the second time this season, scored 43 points in a loss to Northwest, this time by 46-43 on the Trojans’ home court. West is averaging 58.9 against all other competition.

The two teams were tied for first place in the 3A South Piedmont Conference race entering last night’s contest. Northwest is now all alone on top at 9-2 (15-4 overall) with West second at 8-3 (13-5 overall).

“I think mentally we were snowed out,” said Waddell, whose Falcons had 21 turnovers and struggled at the foul line, going only 10-for-25. “Northwest: I give them all the credit. Coach Burleson does a great job of getting his girls ready mentally, with intensity. That’s how come they’re on top of the league.”

West was riding a seven-game winning streak that had started in the third-place game against Davie County in the Sam Moir Christmas Classic.

“I think we did not play up to our potential. We weren’t intense; we weren’t focused,” said Waddell. “The first time we played them (Dec. 10 at West), I thought Northwest Cabarrus outplayed us and outhustled us. Some of that I saw tonight, too,” said Waddell, whose Falcons lost that earlier game 53-43.

“We telegraphed way too many passes. When we’re making turnovers, we’re making terrible passes, but you’ve also got to credit that do their defense. They played us well defensively (man-to-man). They had their hands up like you’re supposed to,” said Waddell.

Both teams had problems with turnovers in the first half, with West making 16 and Northwest losing the ball 15 times. For the game, Northwest had 23, two more than did the Falcons.

West led most of the first half. It was 12-8 after one quarter and 18-13 late in the second period. Then West’s star guard,Kristen Waffle, made her first field goal of the night with 1:06 to play in the half. She followed it up with a 3-pointer to put the Trojans ahead for the first time. The home team led 21-19 at halftime.

Waffle scored seven more points in the third quarter, which saw Northwest lead by 10 at 32-22 and by 38-31 at the end of the quarter. Two West starters, forward Kate Goodman and guard Kristen McNeely, rode the bench most of that period in foul trouble.

West still battled back behind point guard Kari Schenk and the rebounding of center Shameeka Wansley and reserve forwards Jenny Sloop and Danielle Scearce. The Falcons tied it at 40-all with 5:39 to play on a free throw by Schenk.

The Trojans regained the lead, then West lost McNeely (4:59) and Goodman (4:26) on fouls. The Falcons still came back to tie it one more time on Schenk’s transition basket, set up by forward Sara Pieper’s steal.

Northwest then outscored West 4-1 over the final 3:10.

Waddell called a time out with 45 seconds left, but West lost possession when Volpicelli got a jump ball after a pass near the top of the lane.

The Trojans then missed four straight free throws before Scearce’s rebound with 18 seconds left gave West a chance to tie or win. First, Northwest deflected a pass out of bounds. Then the Trojans called a time out at the 12-second mark.

When play resumed, the Falcons got the ball to Pieper, who missed a medium-range jumper. Volpicelli added one of two free throws with six seconds left for the final three-point margin.

West tried to get the ball downcourt for a chance to tie, but Pieper got the ball too late, missing a 3-pointer after the buzzer.

“We had our opportunities. The ball was in our hands at the end of the game. We had an opportunity to win or at least tie the ball game,” said Waddell.

Waffle, who made three 3-pointers, and Volpicelli (11 points plus 13 rebounds) were the only double-figure scorers for the winners. Schenk and Pieper led West with 13 and 10, respectively.

West, despite having Goodman available for only about half the game, had a 36-33 rebound edge, mainly because of Sloop and Scearce, who had 10 boards apiece.

“Jenny’s probably one of the best rebounders we have for her size (5-7). She’ll hustle. If the ball goes in the stands, she’ll go after it. So will Danielle. Danielle will get in there and bang with you too. They did a wonderful job on the boards,” said Waddell.

She thought having both Goodman and McNeely on the bench in foul trouble for half the game was a big factor in the loss.

“Having them out takes away our intensity, because they get after it. They just bring life to the game. Kate’s a dominant force. Kristen goes all around the court. That definitely hurt us,” she said.

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NOTES: West returns to action at Kannapolis A.L. Brown on Friday night, while Northwest hosts Concord. ... Both teams shot poorly from the floor, West going 16-for-51 (31.4 percent) and the Trojans an almost identical 15-for-51 (29.4 percent). ... Northwest did slightly better than the Falcons at the foul line, 12-for-23.

WEST ROWAN (43) — Goodman 9, Pieper 10, Wansley 4, McNeely, Schenk 13, Sloop 3, Scearce 4, Jones.

NORTHWEST CABARRUS (46) — Waffle 18, Edwards 5, Cobb 5, Baumgarner 5, Volpicelli 11, Damewood, Archey 2.

West Rowan 12 7 12 12 — 43