Bottineau, ND – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team (16-13, 3-1 Region IX Division II) ended their season Sunday afternoon in the District F Championship falling at the hands of the Dakota College at Bottineau Lady Jacks (15-17) 65-83. The Lady Jacks now advance to the Division II Women’s National Championship in Overland Park, Kan.
The Lady Knights finish the season with 16 wins, which ties for the second most in program history and second most in head coach Richard Thurin‘s 13 year career. The 0.552 win percentage is the seventh time in program history the Lady Knights have finished over .500 and it is the third in Coach Thurin’s career.
Lady Knights All-Time Win-Loss Record
After traveling 10 hours to reach Bottineau, the Lady Knights got off to a fast start and took a 39-36 lead into the locker room behind 43 percent shooting in the half while holding the Lady Jacks to only 38 percent shooting from the field.
In the second half, the Lady Knights struggled to connect from the field as they only shot 26 percent (10-39) from the field. Conversely, the Lady Jacks shots started to fall on their way to scoring 47 points and shooting 52 percent from the field. The Lady Knights out-rebounded the Lady Jacks 48-42.
“It wasn’t one of our better games,” said coach Thurin. “This time of year you need to be playing your best ball. They shot ball well and we didn’t.”
In her last game in a Lady Knights uniform, DaVontaye Merritt again paced North Platte with a double-double, scoring 19 points and pulling down 19 rebounds, including 10 offensive rebounds. Also in her final game as a Lady Knight, Courtney Widick scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Aliyah Brown was the only other Lady Knights in double-figures as she finished with 12 points.
Imani Scott led the Lady Jacks with 32 points and Savannah Bruce had 14 while Lead Patrizek had 10.
Along with Merritt and Widick, Jordan Dickerson and Samantha Hyatt played their last game in a Lady Knights uniform Sunday. The sophomores finish their career with 31 wins and back-to-back Region IX Championships. The 31 wins is the second most in Lady Knights history for a two year stretch. Last season, the Lady Knights also won the District F Championship to advance to the Division II Women’s National Championship.
Merritt and Widick will go down as two of the greatest Lady Knights to ever wear a uniform as both finished in the Top 20 of the All-Time Scoring List.
Merritt finishes her career with 863 points which places her 3rd All-Time in Lady Knights history.
Widick finishes her career with 570 points which places her 18th on the All-Time scoring list.
Lady Knights Top 25 Scoring List
“It was a good season,” said coach Thurin. “I feel bad for our sophomores as they showed good leadership all season.”