The North Central Missouri College Lady Pirates saw a large group of freshmen get their first collegiate basketball experience, and, while generally acquitting themselves well, it was the sophomore returning duo of Sarah Lamp and Kendey Eaton that led the way for North Central in a season-opening 75-69 loss to the Kansas City Kansas Community College Blue Devils.
The first and fourth quarters did in the Lady Pirates hopes of a season-opening win, as the Blue Devils outscored the home team 24-16 in both 10 minute stretches. Included in the fourth-quarter comeback for KCK was a strong 17 point surge by freshman forward Kisi Young, part of a 29 point performance for the native of Magnolia, Arkansas.
Here is NCMC Head Coach Jenni Croy:
With the Blue Devils putting much of their defensive attention on Eaton, Lamp led the North Central offense with 24 points (12 in each half). Eaton, in a rough shooting night, was able to contribute 13 points. Trenton High School graduate and NCMC freshman Whitley Richman provided strong minutes off the Lady Pirates bench, with a 10 point debut. Samm Jett, a sophomore transfer, had nine points (all in the first half), with point guard Nicole Kost adding eight in the first collegiate game for the former Mercer Lady Cardinal.
In direct contrast to the struggle of the opening and final quarters, the middle quarters of Wednesday night’s opener was positive for the Lady Pirates, outscoring KCK by a combined 37-27.
Lizzie Moore had 14 points and Alix Wilson, a product of Central High School in St. Joseph 10 for the KCK Blue Devils. The two women’s teams will rematch on the KCK campus on Wednesday, December 6th at 5:30 PM.
The Lady Pirates will continue their search for Win #1 of the 2017-2018 season this weekend at the Johnson County Classic in Overland Park, Kansas. On Friday night, NCMC will take on Fort Scott Community College in a 7:30 tip. On Saturday afternoon, the Lady Pirates challenge the host Johnson County Lady Cavaliers, ranked #2 in the country in the preseason NJCAA Division 2 women’s basketball poll. Saturday’s 2 o’clock game will be broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7, with pregame at 1:45 from the Johnson County Gym in Overland Park.
Photo credit – Jim Bligh / U-Click TV / Trenton, MO
