NCMC Women Advance To Another Consolation Round Following Thursday Win At National Tourney

The North Central Missouri College women surged late in the second quarter and always stayed ahead in their consolation game of the NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament at Port Huron, Michigan Thursday morning. In the first game of the day, North Central defeated 15-seeded Grand Rapids 78-67 to advanced another round on the consolation side.

The game was pretty tight throughout most of the first half with both teams holding narrow leads, but after North Central Missouri College gave up a mini-run to Pima in their opening game late in the 2nd quarter on Tuesday, it was the Lady Pirates who made a 6-0 run late in the 2nd period Thursday. NCMC extended a 31-29 lead with a minute remaining in the second period to 37-29 at halftime when Ianara Morbidoni hit a layup to cap a 10-point quarter and Nora Ford hit two free throws and a layup.

NCMC extended the lead to as many as 11 in the 3rd quarter before Grand Rapids responded to make it a 59-54 game going into the 4th quarter.

It was still a 64-60 games with 7:30 left in the game when NCMC scored the next 5 points and kept or extended that margin for most of the rest of the game.

Nora Ford led NCMC with 27 points. Maci Moore and Ianara Morbidoni both scored 17 points. Maci Moore also collected 14 rebounds.

NCMC now advances to the next consolation round at Port Huron on Friday against Niagara County. That game will tip at 10am CDT.

Other NJCAA Division II Women’s Tournament Scores
Consolation
United Tribes Tech 83 Mid Michigan 70
Danville Area 60 Delta 37
Bryant and Stratton 78 Pima 72

Quarterfinals
Richard Bland 69 Morton 63
Harcum 60 Johnson County CC 55

Friday Schedule
Consolation
10am Niagara County vs North Central Missouri College
12pm United Tribes Tech vs Danville Area
2pm Johnson County vs Morton

Semi finals
5pm Kirkwood vs CCBC Essex
7pm Harcum vs Richard Bland