NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS: NIC women win opening game at now-postponed conference tourney due to pandemic
NIC women win opening game at now-postponed conference tourney due to pandemic
EVERETT, Wash. — During Wednesday’s coaches meeting for the Northwest Athletic Conference Championships, tournament officials let it be known that the tournament could be canceled at any time.
Consider that time the final buzzer of Thursday’s North Idaho College-Lower Columbia game, a 53-50 Cardinal win at Everett Community College.
The NWAC Championships, which was only into its first three games of the women’s tournament, was postponed indefinitely due to fears from coronavirus, which an Everett student tested positive for. Everett canceled classes on campus on Thursday and today, and pushed back the conclusion of the first day of games in the women’s tournament, as well as this weekend’s men’s tournament.
“We didn’t know anything about it until after the game,” NIC coach Chris Carlson said. “When the game ended, the announcer said they needed to clear the gym. And they’re trying to squeeze in eight games, so I knew something was going on. We had no indication at the coaches meeting last night, but the people running the tournament said it could be canceled at any time. We had a lot of talk about it, but it was Everett’s decision.”
Carlson added that it wasn’t until an opposing player told NIC’s Halle Eborall on the court that something was going on.
“One of the players told her it was going to be shut down,” Carlson said. “But we just thought it was something to get into our heads. Apparently the virus defense didn’t work.”
As for Thursday’s game, Anna Schrade scored 14 points and Eborall had 12 points and seven rebounds for NIC (18-10). The Cardinals returned to Coeur d’Alene immediately after the game according to school officials.
“Our defense won that game for us,” Carlson said. “It was just like it’s been all year. When we rotate on defense and help each other, we shut people down. It was just a matter of rebounding, and Halle did an incredible job. Alex (Carlton) hit a couple big shots and Anna hit a couple of big free throws. I’m proud of our team for gutting it out.”
NIC advances to the Elite 8 — whenever it is — to face the winner of Everett (15-15) and Umpqua (29-0). Tournament officials said late Thursday that they hoped to resume both tournaments next week.
“We did what we were supposed to do,” Carlson said. “We’re in the Elite 8 with a possible shot at the No. 1 team in the tournament. We advanced, and now we wait.”
NORTH IDAHO
Sydnie Peterson 2-10 2-6 6, Demi Randall 2-5 1-2 5, Anna Schrade 4-8 6-8 14, Halle Eborall 4-12 4-8 12, Alex Carlton 3-14 0-0 6, Brooke Stevens 0-1 0-0 0, Rilee Mangun 2-3 1-2 5, Cheyenne Green 2-6 1-2 5. Totals 19-59 15-28 53.
LOWER COLUMBIA
Bailey Farrer 0-1 0-0 0, Madison Mosier 2-9 4-5 8, Josie Schmitz 0-2 1-2 1, Jodi Noyes 4-8 5-10 13, Cherita Daugherty 4-9 5-6 14, Michaela Harris 3-7 3-5 9, Danica Schmidt 0-2 0-0 0, Tommia Pakootas 0-1 0-0 0, Ally Harman 1-1 0-0 2, Madeline Jacobson 1-5 1-2 3, Asia Castillo 0-1 0-0 0, Melenaite Kata 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-47 19-30 50.
North Idaho 14 10 13 16 — 53
Lower Columbia 9 13 8 20 — 50
3-point goals — NIC 0-11 (Peterson 0-3, Randall 0-1, Schrade 0-3, Eborall 0-2, Carlton 0-2), LCC 1-8 (Farrer 0-1, Mosier 0-1, Daugherty 1-4, Schmidt 0-1, Pakootas 0-1). Rebounds — NIC 30 (Eborall 7), LCC 38 (Noyes 10). Assists — NIC 4 (Randall, Eborall 2), LCC 6 (Daugherty 2). Team fouls — NIC 20, LCC 22. Fouled out — Green.