Utah Valley State Thunders Nic 86-46 In League Opener
It’s not a surprise that the North Idaho College women’s basketball team suffered its first loss Friday.
What was a bit puzzling, though, was the margin of defeat - 40 points, which is equal to at least a week’s worth of losses. Traditional Scenic West Athletic Conference power Utah Valley State College hammered NIC 86-46 in the conference opener at Orem, Utah.
The Wolverines, ranked 18th in the first NJCAA Division I poll of the season, used a balanced attack in raising their overall record to 5-1. NIC is 9-1.
NIC coach Greg Crimp could point to several areas of downfall. But the glaring deficiencies were field-goal and free-throw shooting and turnovers.
The Cards shot 33 percent from the field, making 19 of 58 attempts. They were even colder from the freethrow line (7 of 23; 30 percent).
And when NIC wasn’t missing its shots, it was committing turnovers - 38, to the Wolverines’ 23.
The Wolverines led 43-23 at halftime.
UVSC twice built leads of 45 points. Julie Hasen and Tricia Ferrin led the Wolverines with 14 points each and Mary Hunter had 12 and a team-high six assists. Five other players scored six or more points for UVSC.
Tanya Kirk led NIC with 13 points. She was the lone Cardinal in double figures.
The Cardinals will try to bounce back tonight when they travel to Salt Lake, which defeated defending Region 18 champion Ricks College 61-49.
In another SWAC opener Friday, College of Eastern Utah defeated Dixie College 77-68 at Dixie.
Utah Valley State 86, North Idaho 46
NORTH IDAHO
Grohs 1-4 1-2 3, Rainer 3-8 0-2 6, Kirk 5-15 2-4 13, Howerton 0-4 0-0 0, Richards 2-6 2-6 6, Radmall 1-4 0-1 2, Jacques 2-4 0-0 4, Viebrock 0-4 0-2 0, Phillips 0-0 0-0 0, Schraufnagel 3-4 0-0 6, Harris 0-2 1-4 1, Zrnic 2-3 1-2 5. Totals 19-58 7-23 46.
UTAH VALLEY STATE
Valentine 0-2 0-0 0, Hunter 5-11 2-2 12, Salea 3-7 0-2 6, Ta.Ferrin 2-6 0-0 5, Tr.Ferrin 6-14 2-3 14, Harrison 2-8 0-1 4, Pehrson 4-9 0-0 8, Pool 3-8 0-0 7, Davis 3-3 0-0 7, Holdcraft 4-8 0-0 9, Hansen 6-8 2-2 14. Totals 38-84 6-10 86.
Halftime-Utah Valley State 43, North Idaho 23. 3-Point goals- North Idaho 1-13 (Kirk 1-4, Radmall 0-1, Jacques 0-1, Grohs 0-3, Howerton 0-4), Utah Valley State 4-11 (Pool 1-1, Davis 1-1, Ta.Ferrin 1-2, Holdcraft 1-2, Pehrson 0-1, Hunter 0-2, Tr.Ferrin 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-North Idaho 46 (Rainer 8), Utah Valley State 49 (Salea 10). Assists-North Idaho 9 (Viebrock 2), Utah Valley State 26 (Hunter 6). Total fouls-North Idaho 12, Utah Valley State 20. A-NA.
, DataTimes