Area stars snap NIC win streak

Former Mead High standout Stacy Clinesmith fed ex-Post Falls High and Eastern Washington University star Janelle Ruen for a field goal with five seconds left to lift the Idaho All Stars to a 76-75 victory over North Idaho College on Friday in the Verizon Yellow Pages Cardinal Classic at Christianson Gym in Coeur d’Alene.

The All Stars, an impressive collection of former area college players, shot 51.7 percent and used their considerable experience to snap NIC’s five-game winning streak.

The All Stars’ non-starters made 19 of 28 field goals and contributed 45 points. Ex-EWU player Allie Bailey was 6 of 6 en route to a team-high 14 points. Former Lake City High standout Lindsay Herbert added 13, Clinesmith finished with 12 and EWU grad Stephanie Ulmer scored 11.

NIC, which takes on Williston State College tonight at 5:30, was led by Sara Dennehy’s 23 points, including five points in the final 93 seconds that pulled the Cardinals even.

NIC led 75-74 after Stephanie Jones hit a pair of free throws with 19.2 seconds left, but Clinesmith drove the lane and dished to Ruen for an easy shot from close range.

Williston State lost to Casper 71-61 earlier Friday.

•Despite having four players score in double figures, Idaho lost a 69-68 nail-biter to Oklahoma State in the first round of the New Mexico Thanksgiving Tournament in Albuquerque, N.M.

Leilani Mitchell led the Vandals (1-1) with 16 points. Teammate Jordyn Bowen finished with 15, Emily Faurholt scored 12 and MacKenzie Flynn contributed 10.

Idaho plays the loser of the Marist-New Mexico contest today at 6 p.m.

•Anne Bailey scored 22 points and Katy Ridenour added 17, but Gonzaga couldn’t overcome five opponents scoring in double figures in a 79-65 loss to No. 2 Tennessee in the second round of the Paradise Jam at Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Gonzaga faces No. 9 Michigan State today at 3 p.m.