Colby, KS – The No. 16 North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team (2-3) took to the road Saturday night and defeated the Colby Community College Lady Trojans (1-6) by the score of 55-43.

The Lady Knights got off to a strong start defensively in the first half as they held Colby to only 10 points on 11 percent shooting from the field and zero percent from the 3-point line. The Lady Knights scored 26 points in the first half including 13 from DaVontaye Merritt as she scored 11 of the Lady Knights first 13 points.

In the second half the Lady Trojans got on track offensively and scored 33 points to the Lady Knights 29. Both teams turned the ball over 27 times and Coly earned a slight edge on the boards with a 57-54 advantage. The Lady Knights were able to win by shooting 31 percent from the field and holding the Lady Trojans to only 23 percent.

North Platte had four girls score in double figures, led by Merritt with 16 points for the game. Freshman April Stull had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Kristian Roth had 12 points and Courtney Widick had 11 in the victory.

“We really needed that win,” said head coach Richard Thurin. “We were in foul trouble, but I thought the girls really played hard. We never gave up and finished out the win.”

The Lady Knights return home next week as they face Northeast Community College on Tuesday Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. and Northwest Kansas Technical College on Friday Nov. 22 at 5:30 p.m.