NIC BASKETBALL: Galindo pushes Cardinals in win

• WOMEN

COEUR d’ALENE — North Idaho College coach Nathan Covill had been seeking something to spark the team from the jump. 

On Thursday, the spark got the start. 

Esmeralda Galindo, a freshman from Davis High in Yakima, Wash., had 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Cardinals in a 69-43 win over the Colorado Northwestern Spartans in Scenic West Athletic Conference play at Rolly Williams Court on Thursday. 

“Essie is Essie, and she’s a special talent,” Covill said. “She’s got a tremendous amount of competitive spirit. Now, it’s about adjusting some lineups and getting the right fits. We had a good start today and have to continue working on some things.” 

NIC (9-7, 1-1 SWAC) hosts Salt Lake on Saturday at 1 p.m. 

Colorado Northwestern is 3-15, 0-2. 

COLORADO NORTHWESTERN 

Charity Posey 4-19 3-8 12, Cimonie Martinez 3-11 2-2 11, Chloe Gronewoller 2-4 2-2 6, Taylor Billman 2-9 2-2 6, Makenzie Castille 0-4 0-0 0, Alivia Hutton 3-8 1-2 8, Shunbaah Begay 0-0 0-0 0, Cassandra Perez 0-0 0-0 0, Kaylae Medina 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 14-55 10-16 43. 

NORTH IDAHO 

Chloe Collin 1-3 2-4 4, Kylani Rookstool 3-10 2-2 9, Esmeralda Galindo 5-11 5-6 17, Iratxe Amorrortu 3-8 1-4 8, Summer Faleafa 4-10 2-2 12, Tiarnee Smith 4-5 2-2 10, Larkin Christiansen 0-1 0-0 0, Ripeka Edwards 0-2 0-0 0, Molly Axell 1-6 0-0 3, Emmalee Secrest 2-8 0-0 4, Tayler Adams 0-0 0-0 0. Elisa Holakeituai 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 24-68 14-20 69. 

Colorado North.        9    9    17    8    —    43 

North Idaho        16    17    19    17    —    69 

3-point goals — CNCC 5-23 (Posey 1-6, Martinez 3-10, Castille 0-4, Hutton 1-3), NIC 7-23 (Rookstool 1-3, Galindo 23-2, Amorrortu 1-3, Faleafa 2-6, Smith 0-1, Axell 1-5, Secrest 0-2, Holakeituai 0-1). Rebounds — CNCC 30 (Gronewoller 8), NIC 54 (Galindo 14). Assists — CNCC 5 (Posey, Billman 2), NIC 13 (Amorrortu 4). Team fouls — CNCC 20, NIC 18. Fouled out — Billman, Castille. 

• MEN

North Idaho 78 

Colorado Northwestern 76, OT

COEUR d’ALENE — Sophomore Vaughn Weems scored a game-high 37 points for the Cardinals in a overtime win over the Spartans at Rolly Williams Court. 

Weems and sophomore Tayshawn Colvin iced the game from the free-throw line in the final seconds for NIC (11-6, 1-1 SWAC), which hosts Salt Lake on Saturday at 3 p.m. 

“It was a dogfight,” NIC coach Corey Symons said. “Colorado runs a lot of good stuff and we were lucky to come out with a win. Vaughn did a good job of taking the shots he needs. Bryce (Henry) hit a big 3-pointer that put us up and was a huge spark for us.” 

Henry had nine points and six rebounds for NIC. 

Cole Johnson scored 18 points for Colorado Northwestern (14-4, 0-3). 

COLORADO NORTHWESTERN 

Cole Johnson 4-14 8-8 18, Arthur Videira 1-1 0-0 2, Jamir Todd 5-9 4-5 15, Mitch Jeppesen 3-8 1-2 9, Tyler Christensen 5-16 2-2 14, Carson Forsey 2-7 4-4 10, Santiago Casarin 1-3 0-0 3, Mason Mickelsen 1-3 4-4 6. Totals 22-61 23-25 76. 

NORTH IDAHO 

Vaughn Weems 12-23 11-12 37, Deng Diew 1-6 3-4 5, Tayshawn Colvin 1-3 2-4 4, Tautoko Wynyard 1-1 0-0 2, Bryce Henry 4-7 0-1 9, Dace Pleasant 4-11 4-4 14, Jeremiah Sibley 0-0 0-0 0, Sam Marbury 0-7 1-2 1, Ajayi Simmons 3-7 0-0 6, Romell Russell 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-66 19-26 78. 

Halftime — NIC 31-29. End of regulation — tied 64-64. 3-point goals — CNCC 9-33 (Johnson 2-8, Todd 1-3, Jeppesen 2-5, Christensen 2-10, Forsey 2-5, Casarin 0-2), NIC 7-28 (Weems 4-10, Colvin 0-1, Henry 1-2, Pleasant 2-7, Marbury 0-4, Russell 0-1, Simmons 0-3). Rebounds — CNCC 33 (Videira 8), NIC 37 (Weems 8). Assists — CNCC 12 (Johnson 6), NIC 14 (Pleasant 4). Team fouls — CNCC 22, NIC 19. Fouled out — Videira, Pleasant. Technical fouls — Todd, Henry, Pleasant. 

    KYLE DISHAW PHOTOGRAPHY North Idaho College freshman guard Esmeralda Galindo drives to the basket during the second half of Thursday's game against Colorado Northwestern at Rolly Williams Court.