Nic Women Tumble Out Of Playoffs

The Region 18 Tournament used to be the best time of the season for North Idaho College women’s basketball coach Greg Crimp.

Not the last two years.

Fifth-seeded NIC drifted into the off-season with barely a whimper, falling behind 30-5 and eventually losing 91-61 to No. 4 Ricks on Thursday in the tourney’s opening round at the David O. McKay Events Center on the Utah Valley campus.

Last year, NIC was clobbered 91-62 by Utah Valley in the first round.

“I don’t know what we’re doing wrong in terms of preparing for the tournament,” said Crimp, who, along with co-coach Vic Woodward, guided NIC to four national tournaments from 1984-89. After a five-year layoff, Crimp returned as NIC coach two seasons ago. “I don’t know what magic we’re missing,” said Crimp, who believes his team was improved from last season and is moving in the right direction. “The region’s probably tougher from top to bottom than before.”

The lopsided loss concluded the Cardinals’ postseason bellyflop. NIC’s men were whipped by Snow 108-85 on Wednesday.

The NIC women finished 20-9.

Ricks (19-10) faces No. 1 Utah Valley, a 70-53 winner over Snow, in today’s semifinals. The other semi pits No. 2 Southern Idaho, a 56-50 victor over No. 7 Eastern Utah, and No. 6 Dixie, which edged No. 3 Salt Lake 60-57.

In today’s men’s semis, No. 1 Utah Valley meets No. 5 Southern Idaho and No. 2 Dixie faces No. 6 Snow.

Ricks 91, NIC 61

The Cards folded under Ricks’ trapping defense. Nine of NIC’s 12 first-half turnovers came in the initial 9 minutes.

Ricks, the three-time defending regional champion, capitalized, expanding a 12-5 lead to 30-5 with 11:45 left in the first half.

“We got tentative,” Crimp said.

Behind freshmen guards Jamie Richards and Teresa Viebrock, NIC bit into that cavernous deficit, closing to 50-38 on Mandy Jacques’ steal and layin.

But Emily Freeze pierced NIC’s defense and hit an open jumper just before the halftime buzzer.

“That was a big boost,” Ricks coach Trent Shippen said.

The Vikings eliminated NIC’s comeback notions by scoring seven points before the Cards attempted a shot in the second half.

“We thought we could climb back in it if we could get some (defensive) stops,” Crimp said.

Instead, the Cards stopped themselves with three turnovers in the first minute. NIC, which finished with 27 turnovers, had six in a 2-1/2-minute span as the Cards dribbled wildly into pressure, double dribbled, traveled and threw a careless pass.

NIC’s usually productive inside game was stifled. Tanya Kirk, the second-leading scorer in the region at 17.2, shot 5 of 17 and had 11 points. Shawna Rainer was held eight points below her average of 13.

“I felt like Shawna and I were getting ridden (fouled on overplays) in the post,” Kirk said, “but they beat us by 30 so you can’t blame that.”

“That (inside game) is our bread and butter, but their inside kids hurt us,” Crimp said. “They beat us down the floor.”

Often, Ricks’ guards did the same.

Kirk, a freshman, said she expects to transfer to a four-year school next season. NIC’s cupboard isn’t bare, though, as the majority of its key players were freshmen.

Ricks’ Barbie Carmichael made three 3s and scored 23 points.

Ricks 91, North Idaho 61

North Idaho (20-9) - Radmall 0-0 4 -6 4, Grohs 2-7 3-5 7, Howerton 1-2 0-0 3, Jacques 4-8 1-2 9, Richards 3-7 2-3 8, Viebrock 2-3 0-1 4, Nearing 0-4 2-4 2, Rainer 1-5 3-4 5, Schraufnagel 1-4 2- 3 4, Harris 0-2 1-4 1, Kirk 5-17 0-0 11, Zrnic 1-3 1-2 3. Totals 20-62 19-34 61.

Ricks (19-10) - Hanchett 2-6 0-0 4, Carmichael 7-16 6-7 23, Packer 4-11 6 -6 14, Benson 4-7 3-6 12, Freeze 4-11 2- 2 12, Pike 2-9 1-3 5, Thueson 1-1 2-2 4, Brown 1-7 5-6 9, Torrey 2-5 5-6 9, Nish 0-0 0-0 0, Goodell 2-5 2-2 6. Totals 29- 78 27-35 91.

Half-Ricks 52, NIC 38. 3-point goals-NIC 2-10 (Richards 0-2, Kirk 1-6, Howerton 1-1, Jacques 0-1), Ricks 6-20 ( Carmichael 3-7, Benson 1-4, Freeze 2-5, Pike 0-4). Total fouls-NIC 23, Ricks 25. Technical fouls-none. Fouled out-none. Rebounds-NIC 52 (Kirk, Grohs each 7), Ricks 57 (Packer 12). Assists-NIC 9 ( Grohs 3), Ricks 20 (Benson 5).

Dixie 60, Salt Lake 57

The Rebels (17-14) pulled off the upset when Sunny Myers’ 3-pointer trickled into the net. Salt Lake ended 17-10.

CSI 56, CEU 50

Amanda Covington scored 17 for the Eagles (26-4).

Utah Valley 70, Snow 53

Tricia Ferrin scored 23 points to lead the Wolverines (24-4).

, DataTimes