Trophy hopes alive for Cards

SALINA, Kan. - North Idaho kept its trophy hopes alive Thursday morning, winning a loser-out game against South Georgia Tech College 64-45 in the NJCAA tournament at the Bicentennial Center.

Former Coeur d'Alene High standout Kama Griffitts led the Cardinals (27-7) with 13 points, followed by Tugce Canitez's 12 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and four assists.

"Tugce really turned it on in the second half," North Idaho coach Chris Carlson said. "It was the most aggressive half of basketball she's had in the tournament. Kama (Griffitts) had some moments when she did some good things. Camille (Reynolds) was all over the court today. She knew she had to defend a pretty good player and was able to match that."

North Idaho held South Georgia to 14 of 48 from the floor for 29 percent, and the Cardinals shot 15 of 16 from the foul line, compared to 5 of 13 for the Jets.

"We knew the foul shots hurt us in the first game," Carlson said. "We just shot the ball like we had all season."

NIC outrebounded South Georgia 52-42.

Griffitts and KiKi Edwards-Teasley had seven rebounds apiece for NIC, which advances to face Shelton, Ala., (20-13) today at 10 a.m. PDT.

"We worked the ball around really well," Carlson said. "To have four kids in double-figures - we knew if we were going to win, we'd have to do it as a team."

SOUTH GEORGIA TECH COLLEGE

Monique Willis 3-11 2-5 8, Janean Strobert 0-0 0-0 0, Nalma Garcia 0-0 0-0 0, Reka Ruttner 0-1 0-0 0, Zsoka Ruttner 0-2 0-0 3, Zandreal Blakely 0-5 0-1 0, Brittany Mills 1-3 0-0 2, Karen Wilkins 0-1 2-2 2, Brittani Jones 1-5 0-0 2, Deatric Smith 4-9 1-2 15, Opheila McMath 5-10 0-3 13, Miranda Pittman 0-1 0-0 2. Totals 14-48 5-13 45.

NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE

Chantel Divilbiss 1-2 0-0 5, Camille Reynolds 3-7 2-2 11, Timena Shebala 0-0 0-0 0, Amy Warbrick 4-7 0-0 11, Mariana Lamperti 1-1 0-0 2, KiKi Edwards-Teasley 1-6 4-5 6, Kama Griffitts 2-7 6-6 13, Katie Sanders 1-5 0-0 2, Sadie Lazzarini 0-2 0-0 0, Amanda Carlton 0-0 0-0 0, Deanna Dotts 1-4 0-0 2, Tugce Canitez 3-9 3-3 12. Totals 17-50 15-16 64.

Halftime - NIC 28-24. 3-point goals - SGTC 4-16 (Z. Ruttner 1-4, Blakely 0-1, Smith 2-8, McMath 1-3), NIC 5-14 (Divilbiss 1-2, Reynolds 1-3, Warbrick 1-3, Griffitts 1-5, Canitez 1-1). Rebounds - STGC 44 (Willis 13), NIC 52 (Canitez 11). Assists - SGTC 8 (Smith, Blakely, Willis 2), NIC 7 (Canitez 4). Team fouls - SGTC 19, NIC 18. Fouled out - Jones.