NIC women fall to Williston

SALINA, Kan. - Katie Buskey scored 19 points before fouling out and Mollie Kramer added 18 points and North Idaho College lost an opening-round game to Williston State 67-63 on Monday at the NJCAA tournament.

With the single elimination format, the loss ends NIC's season.

The Cardinals (28-5) were without Angela Woods due to a practice injury. NIC built a 39-35 halftime lead, but couldn't sustain the momentum and was outscored in the second half 32-24.

"We missed Angela out there, especially against such a big team," NIC coach Chris Carlson said. "They have a lot of kids that take up space in the lane."

Carlson said Buskey picked up her game, helping the Cardinals stay in it.

"But we miss Angela - she has been a leader and the players respond to her on the court, so that was a big deal."

NIC was down by as many as nine points in the second half, but Carlson said they came back to take the lead. He said Buskey's fifth foul really hurt NIC's chances.

"We lost her on a charging call, and Williston came back. Their big kids really hurt us offensively and outrebounded us when it mattered.

"They did a good job around the basket."

NIC lost 3 of its last 4 games.

"It has been a good season overall," Carlson said. "It was not the good ending we were looking for."

see NIC WOMEN, B2

NIC WOMEN

from B1

Williston State (31-3) advances to face No. 5 Shelton State of Alabama today.

The Tetons were led by Maggie Lorenz, who tallied 20 points and 17 rebounds. Jazzmine Robinson added 12 points.

NIC made 8 of 22 from beyond the arc (36 percent), while Williston connected on just 2 of 8 (25 pecent). The Cardinals went to the free throw line 13 times, making 7, while the Tetons made 17 of 22.

North Idaho scored 15 points off turnovers, while Williston could only manage two off NIC's miscues.

The Tetons held the rebounding edge, 42-36.

NIC beat the Tetons 58-46 in the second game of this season in Williston, N.D. Unlike previous years, due to the addition of at-large bids, the only consolation game is a third-place game for the teams that lose in the semifinals. One loss in any other game, and a team is done.

This was the Cardinals' ninth trip to the NJCAA tournament, starting with the 1983-84 season, with former coach Greg Crimp leading five trips and current coach Chris Carlson getting the Cardinals back four of the last five years.

NORTH IDAHO (28-5)

Katie Buskey 5-7 0-0 19, Jansen Butler 0-0 0-0 0, Tori Davenport 0-2 1-2 1, Kabri Emerson 1-5 2-2 4, Georgia Stirton 1-5 1-2 3, Aimee Durbridge 3-5 0-1 6, Renae Mokrzycki 0-2 0-0 0, Mollie Kramer 5-6 2-2 8, Hannah Love 4-9 1-4 12, Danika Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Maggie Kirscher 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-39 8-22 5-12 63.

WILLISTON STATE (31-3)

Marti Quale 0-0 0-0, Megan Telehey 0-0 0-0 0, Jaden Lynch 0-0 0-0 0, Molly Li 0-0 0-0 0, Dani Dukart 0-1 1-2 1, Britnee Shaw 0-0 0-0 0. Jazzmine Robinson 4-13, 4-6 12, Samantha Schell 2-3 5-6 9, BriAnn Nelson 3-8 5-5 11, Katie King 4-6 0-0 8, Maggie Lorenz 9-17 2-3 20. Totals 22-47 17-22 67.

Halftime - North Idaho 39-35. 3-point goals - North Idaho 8-22 (Buskey 2-6, Davenport 0-1, Emerson 0-1, Stirton 0-2, Durbridge 0-3, Mokrzycki 0-1, Kramer 2-4, Love 1-2). Williston 2-8 (Quale 2-6, Dukart 0-1, Robinson 0-1). Rebounds - North Idaho 36 (Emerson 7), Williston 42 (Schell 7, King 7). Assists - North Idaho 12 (Stirton 3), Williston 6 (Robinson 2). Team fouls - North Idaho 21, Williston 15. Fouled out - North Idaho: Buskey. Williston: Robinson.

NJCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

At Salina Bicentennial Center

Salina, Kan.

Opening-round games

Times PDT

Monday, March 18

8 a.m. - No. 16 Weatherford College, Texas 72, No. 17 Northeast Community College, Neb. 68

10 - No. 9 Blinn College, Texas 72, No. 24 Kaskaskia College, Ill. 63

Noon - No. 13 Midland College, Texas 57, No. 20 Volunteer State Community College, Tenn. 49

2:30 p.m. - No. 21 Williston State College, N.D. 67, No. 12 North Idaho 63

4:30 - No. 15 Crowder College, Mo. 69, No. 18 Redlands Community College, Okla. 64

6:30 - No. 10 Chipola College, Fla. 78, Southwestern Illinois College 62

Tuesday, March 19

8 a.m. - No. 14 Western Nebraska Community College (20-14) vs. ASA College, N.Y. (24-3)

10 - No. 11 Northwest Florida State College (24-4) vs. No. 22 Itawamba Community College, Miss. (19-9)

Noon - No. 1 Trinity Valley Community College, Texas (32-1) vs. Weatherford (25-5)

2:30 p.m. - No. 8 Darton State College, Ga. (30-3) vs. Blinn (31-3).

4:30 - No. 4 Gulf Coast State College, Fla. (27-4) vs. Midland (27-7)

6:30 - No. 5 Shelton State, Ala. (32-0) vs. Williston State (31-3)

Wednesday, March 20

11 a.m. - No. 2 Central Arizona College (29-1) vs. Crowder (29-5)

1 p.m. - No. 7 Southern Idaho (21-11) vs. Chipola (26-6)

3 - No. 3 Hutchinson Community College, Kan. (33-1) vs. Western Nebraska/ASA College winner

5 - No. 6 Walters State Community College, Tenn. (29-1) vs. Northwest Florida State/Itawamba winner