Lady Cards seek another national title
The NIC women struggled against 5th-ranked Casper College and lost 83-73 in action on Saturday, Dec. 3 as weekend play concluded. NIC hosted Casper College, Sheridan College and the Idaho All-Stars and finished the tournament with a record of 2-1, putting the Lady Cards at 6-2 on the season.
Sophomore Julia Salmio led the Cardinals with a double-double posting-up for 10 rebounds and 15 points. Sophomore Korina Baker scored 16 points and Freshman Hannah Love came off the bench to score 14 points, but that was not enough to make up a 46-30 deficit after the first half of play.
With 12:04 left in the first half, Casper led 26-8. Casper scored 26 points off of turnovers. Rosalie Cutri led Casper with a game high 24 points.
NIC’s freshman Angela Woods scored 12 points and freshman Kate Buskey scored 10 points in that game.
Buskey, Salmio, Woods and Baker led the Lady Cards in scoring as they combined for 57 of the team’s 73 points in a 73-56 win against Sheridan College on Dec 2.
Buskey hit nine out of 13 free throws and scored 19 points in the game. Salmio scored 15 points and Woods scored 12, while Baker followed with 11.
On Thursday, Dec. 1, the women defeated Casper College from Wyoming 69-63. Baker shot eight out of 14 from the field leading the team with 21 points.
“I’m just real happy with the win,” said head coach Chris Carlson. “Casper is ranked fifth in the nation right now, so this was the best win of the season for us so far.”
Salmio and Woods each scored 11 points in the game. The second half of the game was close as NIC only out-scored Casper, 38-37, in second half points.
“When we first came in we had a rough start, but since we have been here for about three months together, we’re really pulling together well and starting to play together as a team,” said freshmen Aime Durbrige from Australia. “We spend a lot of time hanging out together so it really pays off on the court for us.”
On Saturday, Nov. 26, the Lady Cards defeated the Lady Knights from Wenatchee Valley CC, 66-39. Baker led the team with her offensive and defensive effort as she finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and five steals.
Freshman Danika Johnson came off the bench to add 11 points and 6 rebounds. Buskey led NIC in scoring for the game with 12 points.
As downtown Coeur d’Alene was being lit up with fireworks and Christmas lights on Friday, Nov. 25, the Lady Cards were on their way to victory against the Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS) Sasquatch in a 71-52 victory.
Salmio led the way against CCS scoring 16 points and Angela Woods added 10 points for NIC for the second game this season to help establish the Lady Card’s strong inside game.
The women took control of the game with their defense forcing 20 turnovers and holding the Sasquatch to 30.8 percent shooting in the second half. Woods added 10 points for NIC.
“Julia has been figuring it out,” Carlson said. “She had 16 in the first game and went real strong to the basket tonight.”
Buskey scored 14 points and Baker scored 13 points to lead the Cardinals past the North Idaho All-Stars 77-64 on Nov.18.
NIC unvieled its 2010 NJCAA championship banner during a pregame celebration.
Lindsay Herbert and Bianca Cheever were top scorers posting15 points apiece for the All-Stars.
NIC will travel to Longview, Wash. on Dec. 28 to play in the Lower Columbia College Tournament.
