North Idaho Women Hold Off Wolverines Five Players Hit Double Figures In 80-75 Win Over Utah Valley

Once again, the North Idaho College women’s basketball team had great statistics against Utah Valley State College.

This time, the statistics combined for an 80-75 NIC win in the Scenic West Athletic Conference on Saturday night.

The Cards (17-3, 8-3) used the double-figure scoring of five players to surpass the Wolverines at Christianson Gym.

The Wolverines’ last chance to pull out a victory was disrupted when Erin Dowhy made the play of the night for the Cards. Dowhy forced a strip and assisted Tammy Goyne’s 3-point bank shot for the final margin.

The Wolverines’ 6-3 forward, Jamie Roberts, missed a 5-footer with 45 seconds remaining. On NIC’s ensuing possession, Becky Huddle was fouled on a coast-to-coast effort, and hit one of two free throws for a 77-75 lead.

Huddle finished with 17 points.

North Idaho’s Alisha Nater played an aggressive second half, scoring 15 of her 17 points and forcing the Wolverines (15-8, 6-5) to guard her closely in the key as she hit several turn-around shots over the Wolverines.

“Nater continues to be offensive in there, she’s giving us a nice target… some nice post moves and she was on the offensive boards as well,” said NIC head coach Greg Crimp. “A couple of (her) putbacks were critical for us, (we) continued to find her inside. Keeping their big player in foul trouble helped us greatly.”

The Cardinals found trouble at the end of the first half as the Wolverines forced six turnovers and went on an 8-0 run, including Tiffany Massey’s field goal off the roll to put the Wolverines within 39-37 at halftime.

The Wolverines tied the Cards at 39 when Tirzah Church hit two of her team-high 17 points on a 10-foot turnaround. An 11-0 run by the Cards cooled the Wolverines’ offense and pushed the score to 50-41 in the early minutes after intermission.

The Cards kept the lead for the rest of the night.

Barrie Jensen scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half, hitting 5 of 6 from the field, including 2 of 3 from behind the 3-point line. Julie Grohs and Tammy Goyne put in 11 apiece for the Cards.

“To keep pace with Ricks we are going to have to win every night out,” Crimp said. “Every night seems to be a tough one. Utah Valley is a good basketball team. I’m happy with the win, I’m happy to hang on.”

The Cardinals play at Dixie on Friday and at Snow on Saturday.

NIC will need both wins to keep pace behind top-ranked Ricks and CSI.

NIC 80, Utah Valley 75

North Idaho (17-3, 8-3) - Middlesworth 0-0, 0-0 0, Goyne 4-9, 1-2 11, Huddle 5-10, 5-8 17, Grohs 4-12, 3-5 11, Lemon 0-0, 0-0 0, Rehder 0-0, 0-0 0, Lindhe 2-4, 1-2 6, Dowhy 2-4, 0-0 4, Nater 8-13, 1-2 17, Jensen 6-7, 0-0 14. Totals 31-61, 11-19 80.

Utah Valley (15-8, 6-5) - Church 7-10, 3-4 17, Chambers 2-2, 0-2 4, Roberts 2-8, 1-3 5, Duckworth 3-10, 6-7 12, Morris 0-0, 0-0 0, Massey 4-7, 2-2 10, McEwen 1-5, 0-0 2, Nyffeler 1-5, 4-4 6, Konold 1-2, 0-0 2, Schaer 0-0, 0-0 0, Tervort 7-10, 3-3 17. Totals 28-59, 19-25 75.

Half-NIC 39, UVSC 37. Regulation-80-75. 3-point goals- NIC7-15, (Goyne 2-5, Huddle 2-3, Grohs 0-1, Lindhe, 1-3, Jensen 2-3), UVSC 0-4, (Duckworth 0-4). Total Foul-NIC 20, UVSC 19. Technical Fouls-none. Fouled out-Nater. Rebounds-NIC 32 (Grohs 8), UVSC 27 (Church 5, Massey 5). Assists-NIC 26 (Goyne 8), UVSC 23 (Duckworth 10).

, DataTimes