Cardinal women drop consolation final

SALINA, Kan. - The North Idaho Cardinals could not overcome a 14-point halftime deficit as they fell to Copiah-Lincoln Community College 73-61 in the consolation championship game of the NJCAA tournament at the Bicentennial Center on Saturday.

"We came out flat in the first half," North Idaho coach Chris Carlson said. "For playing for seventh place and it being the last game of the year, we didn't come out and set the tone on anything."

NIC rallied to within five points in the closing moments, but saw the Wolves pull away.

"We can't dwell on this game," Carlson said. "It's all about the season. We placed higher than we did last year. We had a ton of freshmen playing on this team that made it to March 20. This season started in August on the first day of school - we've had a great season with two wins at nationals, and we did it with a lot of freshmen."

With the team's youth, Carlson believes the team will find itself right back in the hunt next season.

"Absolutely," Carlson said. "They've got the understanding and experience of how you're going to come out in this tournament. The biggest growth spurts college players have is between their freshman and sophomore season. We've got a good nucleus coming back and could have a really good team next year with a few more recruits."

All-tournament selection Tugce Canitez led the Cardinals with 19 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

"She's been a workhorse this tournament, especially on the boards," Carlson said. "To play on that level the entire time has been great."

KiKi Edwards-Teasley added 16 points for NIC (28-8), which earned the tournament's sportsmanship award.

"I'm glad we made some runs in the second half," Carlson said. "I was real pleased with our whole season."

COPIAH-LINCOLN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Rokeiya Adams 0-1 0-0 0, Paige Webster 0-1 0-2 0, Kristin Newsome 1-1 0-0 2, Nadia Collins 2-3 5-5 15, LaToria Holder 4-7 3-4 11, Rachel Vigers 9-12 2-2 20, Nikita Roberts 0-1 0-0 0, Shareka Hunt 5-10 3-6 13, Brandi Simmons 5-11 2-2 12. Totals 26-47 15-21 73.

NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE

Chantel Divilbiss 0-3 0-0 0, Camille Reynolds 1-7 1-2 3, Amy Warbrick 0-3 0-0 6, KiKi Edwards-Teasley 5-9 3-4 16, Kama Griffitts 3-11 0-0 8, Katie Sanders 2-6 0-0 7, Sadie Lazzarini 1-5 0-0 2, Deanna Dotts 0-3 0-2 0, Tugce Canitez 4-14 5-6 19. Totals 14-53 9-14 61.

Halftime - CLCC 33-19. 3-point goals - CLCC 2-9 (Newsome 0-1, Collins 2-2, Holder 0-3, Vigers 0-2), NIC 8-18 (Reynolds 0-2, Warbrick 2-3, Edwards-Teasley 1-1, Griffitts 2-8, Sanders 1-1, Canitez 2-3). Rebounds - CLCC 40 (Holder, Vigers 7), NIC 48 (Canitez 11). Assists - CLCC 13 (Vigers 3), NIC 13 (Canitez 4). Team fouls - CLCC 13, NIC 18. Fouled out - Sanders, Canitez.