Lady Cards secure the win in close game vs. Blue Mountain
NIC’s women's basketball team won 66-63 against Blue Mountain Saturday afternoon in an intense game that came down to the last second.
After a difficult first half with the Cardinals down 8 points, the team came back out firing on all cylinders, going on a 12-3 run, and gaining the lead to start the second half. With some hard-fought battles inside and multiple players hitting from beyond the arc, the Cardinals gained their lead 46-44 halfway through the third quarter.
Laney Smith added to the hot shooting for the Cards and was responsible for two of the four three-pointers made in that quarter. Smith had 12 points overall going 4-9 from the field with three of those baskets being three-pointers.
By the end of the third quarter the cardinals had a 10-point advantage up 58-48. Blue Mountain made a run of their own in the fourth quarter gaining the lead back, up 60-61 with a minute and a half remaining in the game.
Kolby Pimperton had two successful drives to the rim late in the game that resulted in her getting fouled and shooting free throws. She made all four attempts. Pimperton finished the game with 15 points going 5-6 from the free throw line. Following the foul shots the Cardinals came back, now up 64-63.
Blue Mountain had a chance to take back the lead in their final possession, but the Cardinals got the stop and sank the last two free throws after being fouled to go up by three and win the game.
Below is an attached slideshow of photos from Saturday's game, captured by Kyle Dishaw.
