LadyCards grab final home game win

The North Idaho College women’s basketball team split in their last two home games as an NJCAA team.

The Ladycards lost the first of their last two home games to the Salt Lake Bruins 73-58 on Feb. 18. They had lost the two previous meetings by fairly significant margins, but the team is looking to chip away at the spread for regionals.

“We proved that we can keep up with them,” said sophomore Shelby Cloninger. “So now we just need to focus up in practice and really execute our plays and play good defense.”

They played a close game with the Bruins for three and a half periods before the Bruins ran away with it with five minutes left in the 4th period.

“We definitely have what it takes,” Cloninger said. “They are ranked third in the nation and we scared them a little bit this last time we played them. That makes us believe that we can compete with anyone.”

However the LadyCards finished strong on Feb. 20 against the Snow College Badgers winning their final home game 74-67 to a team who they had lost to in Utah a little less than a month ago. The game swung like a pendulum with momentum going back and forth before the LadyCards managed to pull ahead to take the win toward the end of the game.

Unfortunately for the team, they have been their own nightmare as far as consistant play, though the team finished their season with a respectable 20-8 overall record and an 8-7 conference record.

“We can definitely sweep at regionals,” Cloninger said. “And hopefully do the same at nationals.”

Sophomore Stormee Van Belle extends for a layup against Snow College last Saturday.

The real question remains, when the records are marked at 0-0 for regionals, whether or not the LadyCards can take what they’ve learned from their regular season experiences to upset Salt Lake and other SWAC opponents to claim the regional championship.

The first test will come in the form of the ladies’ first regional game against Utah State University-Eastern on Feb. 26. The Cardinal ladies have proved they can take USU-Eastern on in the past, with three victories to boot in the regular season.

“We have already had a great season,” Cloninger said. “So whatever happens, I am glad that it happened with this group of girls. They are so amazing.”

If the LadyCards succeed at the regionals tournament in Twin Falls, they could move on to their final opportunity to impress at the National Junior College Athletics Association tournament, as NIC basketball will no longer be participating nationally after this season.