NPCC Lady Knights Knock Off Plainswomen – North Platte Post Archive

Sterling, CO – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team (13-9, 2-1 Region IX Division II, 3-1 NCCAC) traveled to Sterling, Colo. despite the snow and knocked off the Northeastern Junior College Plainswomen (10-12) Tuesday night 72-70 on the strength of an 18-0 run at the end of the first half.

The Lady Knights started out the game slow and got down early to the Plainswomen by as much as 26-11. Jordan Dickerson was the spark that the Lady Knights needed and went on an 18-0 run and out-scored the Plainswomen 24-6 down the stretch of the first half to earn the 35-32 lead at the break. DaVontaye Merritt led all scorers in the first half with seven points.

In the second half the game was back and forth as neither team could gain control of the game as the teams traded baskets and runs. Late in the half with a little over a minute and a half Dickerson went to the line and hit two free throws to give the Lady Knights a 72-70 margin that turned out to be the final margin.

Both teams had opportunities to tie the game for the Plainswomen and to stretch their lead for the Lady Knights but both were unsuccessful as no more points were scored.

Dickerson led the way for the Lady Knights as she finished with 19 points. DaVontaye Merritt (15 points), April Stull (12 points) and Stephanie Casteel (11 points) were all in double-figures for the Lady Knights.

“We played some zone defense which turned out to be big,” said head coach Richard Thurin “as was the 18-0 before half. It was great to see four girls in double-figures.”

Meg Pritchard led the Plainswomen with 16 points and Brooke Blair was the only other in double-figures with 12.

The Lady Knights travel to Lamar, Colo. to take on the Lamar Community College Runnin’ Lopes (12-8) on Friday Feb.7 at 6:30 p.m. CST. The Lady Knights knocked off the Runnin’ Lopes 87-84 at home earlier this year behind 26 points and 11 from DaVontaye Merritt. Freshman April Stull also had a double-double as she finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Next week the Lady Knights travel to McCook Community College (5-18, 1-3 NCCAC) to face the Lady Indians on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m. before returning home on Friday, Feb. 14 to face the Eastern Wyoming College Lady Lancers (12-10) at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Knights finish out the week by hosting the Nebraska Wesleyan University JV on Sunday, February 16 at 2 p.m.