North Idaho’s Rainer, Jacques Commit To Division I Teams

Two North Idaho College women’s basketball players have committed to Division I schools.

Shawna Rainer, a Shadle Park grad, has orally committed to Boston College of the Big East Conference. The 6-foot forward was the thirdleading scorer in Region 18 at 15 points per game.

Rainer, selected to the All-Region 18 and All-Region 18 Tournament teams, chose Boston College over UMass, San Francisco and Idaho.

“I just really liked it there and I think I’ll fit in well,” Rainer said.

Sophomore guard Mandy Jacques, with coach Greg Crimp and assistant Kristi Johnson looking on, signed a letter of intent on Monday to attend Long Beach State of the Big West Conference.

Jacques, an All-Region 18 honorable mention, was among Region 18 leaders in field-goal percentage (45 percent), 3-point percentage (36), assists (4.9) and steals (3.3).

Whitcomb lands recruit

New North Idaho College wrestling coach Pat Whitcomb has his first recruit - Oregon State transfer Troy Sabat.

Sabat was a four-time state champion in Bismarck, N.D. He is expected to replace sophomore Jessie Schaeffer, who was second at nationals last season.

NIC recruited Sabat last year, but he chose OSU, where he dropped out of school. Sabat will have two years of eligibility at NIC.

Vandal joins Falcons

Defensive end Barry Mitchell, one day after the 1997 NFL Draft, signed a free-agent contract Monday to play for the Atlanta Falcons next season.

A three-year starter for the Vandals, Mitchell finished his career with 47 tackles for loss and 28-1/2 sacks to finish No. 3 on the Vandals’ career list in both categories.

Mitchell, a native of Aurora, Colo., recorded seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 1997 on his way to being named first team All-Big West along with teammate Ryan Phillips, who was taken in third round of the draft by the New York Giants on Saturday.

Mitchell, who played just one year of high school football before signing with the Vandals, was also a second-team All-Big Sky Conference pick his junior year.

Idaho women second

After two rounds, the University of Idaho women are second with a 651 score at the Big West Golf Championship at the UI Golf Course.

New Mexico State, ranked 20th nationally in the Rolex Collegiate Rankings, leads the five-team field with a 611. The third and final round of the 54-hole tournament is today beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Idaho coach Don Rasmussen had no complaints.

“Some of my players were nervous early on and I think that was a factor in their scores. Even though I’m pleased with their performance, they believe they can do better.”

NMSU’s A.J. Eathorne led all golfers with a 36-hole total of 145. She fired a 2-under-par 70 in the first round. Four of the tourney’s top five golfers are from NMSU.

Breaking the NMSU stanglehold is Elizabeth Carter, an Idaho sophomore, who paced the Vandals with a 153, which included a 3-over-par 75 in the second round. She is third.

Idaho’s Trisha Einspahr is in seventh place with a 160 (82-78).

Par took a battering during the Athletic Round Table Pro-Am stop at Deer Park Golf Club on Monday.

Pro Chris Curran of Meadow-Wood and amateur Dick Bingham of Spokane Country Club matched 6-under-par 66s to lead the way.

Lake City wins in OT

With a 4-3 margin in the shootout, Lake City beat North Central 4-3 in a non-league soccer match in Spokane.

Scott Blodgett, who had scored the Timberwolves’ first goal, Matt Anderson, Connor Quinn and Brent Wolf scored for LC in overtime to produce the victory.

First half-1, LC, Blodgett 15:00. 2, LC, Landers ( Tudor) 20:00. 3, NC, Smith 23:00. 4, NC, Fielder (Smith) 27:00. Second half- 5, NC, Smith 65:00. (Third LC goal unreported.) Overtime-LC goals: Anderson, Blodgett, Quinn, Wolf. NC goalsTurnbull, Stanton, Smith.

Shots on goal-Lake City 8, North Central 8. Saves- Lake City, Hill 4, Morris 1. North Central, Turnbull 5.

, DataTimes