The North Platte Community College Knights finished the 2011 calendar year on a down note. After winning six of their first seven games, they lost four of their last five to go into their extended holiday break with a disappointing 7-5 record. But with a new year comes new opportunity, and the new opportunity for the Knights begins tonight at the NPCC Classic at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium. Tonight, the Knights take on the Midland University JV. Tomorrow afternoon, they will battle Otero Junior College in a clash of Region IX South Subregion foes. They are the first of nine games the Knights will play this month, seven of which are home games. Tonight’s game can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1410. Pregame coverage gets underway at 7:15, with the tip-off scheduled for 7:30.

The 19th-ranked Nebraska women’s basketball team overcame a slow start and cruised to a 62-48 victory over Indiana at the Devaney Center last night. In their first ever Big Ten home game, the Huskers fell behind by eight midway through the first half but closed out the half on a 25-4 run to take a 37-24 lead into the locker room. They extended their run by scoring the first nine points of the second half and never looked back. Reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Jordan Hooper posted yet another double-double, scoring a game-high 21 points and hauling down 11 rebounds. She was joined in double figures by Emily Cady, who tied her season high tally with 18 points. The win moves the Husker women to 13-1 and 2-0 in Big Ten play. They are back in action Sunday afternoon at Iowa.