REGION 18 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Turnovers cost Cardinals early, late ... NIC bows out in semis of conference tournament
TWIN FALLS — Sophomore Kylani Rookstool hit a 3-pointer with 6:14 remaining to tie the game at 47-47 for third-seeded North Idaho College, but the Cardinals eventually fell to second-seeded Snow 59-50 in a semifinal game in the Region 18 women’s basketball tournament on Thursday at the College of Southern Idaho.
Snow (21-10) outscored NIC (17-13) 26-13 in the second quarter to take a 33-21 halftime lead.
“It was a slow start for both of us really,” said third-year NIC coach Nathan Covill. “We had a terrible end to the first half and end of the game. In the last few minutes, we hurt ourselves with some turnovers. We crawled back into it and tied it up and then turned it over.”
NIC closed the gap to within 42-38 after the third quarter.
NIC freshman Esmeralda Galindo, who led the conference in scoring at 18.5 points per game, scored 10 points in 22 minutes before fouling out for the Cardinals. Rookstool, who was second in the conference with 15.1 points per game, finished with nine.
“Essie’s a tough kid to officiate and foul trouble hurt us,” Covill said. “We made a run with her on the bench, put her back in and she picked up two right away and was out.”
Sophomore Iratxe Amorrortu had 13 points and six rebounds for NIC.
Rookstool transferred from NAIA St. Katherine in San Marcos, Calif., when the school closed in 2024.
“She’s been a blessing to coach,” said Covill, who had just two sophomores on his roster. “She was a great get for us. She has some good chances to go onto a four-year school. She’s a great kid and leader and she’s going to have some opportunities somewhere else.”
Brooke Pennington and Kiriana Hawaikirangi scored 10 points each for Snow, which will face fourth-seeded Salt Lake in the championship game today at 2 p.m. PDT. The Bruins (20-10) upset top-seeded Southern Idaho (23-8) 65-55 in the other semifinal.
NORTH IDAHO
Chloe Collin 4-8 0-1 8, Kylani Rookstool 2-12 3-4 9, Esmeralda Galindo 4-11 2-3 10, Iratxe Amorrortu 4-7 3-4 13, Summer Faleafa 0-3 0-0 0, Tiarnee Smith 2-9 1-2 5, Ripeka Edwards 0-5 0-0 0, Tayler Adams 1-2 0-0 2, Elisa Holakeituai 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 18-59 10-16 50.
SNOW
Brooke Pennington 4-12 0-0 10, Maliyah Elliott 0-1 0-0 0, Kiriana Hawaikirangi 2-11 4-4 10, Lili Suguturaga 4-7 1-2 9, Iyana Beh 3-9 1-2 7, Hadley Richins 2-8 0-0 4, Madison Hosino 4-8 0-0 8, Sydnee Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Seini Tuipulotu 3-5 2-4 9, Alisi Peaua 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 23-63 8-12 59.
North Idaho 8 13 17 12 — 50
Snow 7 26 9 19 — 59
3-point goals — NIC 4-18 (Rookstool 2-5, Galindo 0-1, Amorrortu 2-5, Faleafa 0-2, Smith 0-1, Edwards 0-4), Snow 5-17 (Pennington 2-6, Hawaikirangi 2-5, Richins 0-2, Hosino 0-3, Tuipulotu 1-1). Rebounds — NIC 42 (Smith 10), Snow 45 (Beh 10). Assists — NIC 7 (Faleafa 2), Snow 14 (Hawaikirangi 4). Team fouls — NIC 17, Snow 13. Fouled out — Galindo.
REGION 18 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
At College of Southern Idaho
Twin Falls
Thursday’s Games
No. 2 Snow 59, No. 3 North Idaho 50
No. 4 Salt Lake 65, No. 1 Southern Idaho 55
Friday’s Game
Championship game
No. 4 Salt Lake (20-10) vs. No. 2 Snow (21-10), 2 p.m.