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Lady Pirates split games with nationally-ranked foes in Florida

Local Sports NCMC Women's Basketball

The North Central Missouri College women’s basketball team claimed a victory over Morton College on Friday, before falling to the host Palm Beach State on Saturday, in action from the Panther Basketball Classic in Palm Beach, Florida.  The result leaves 12th-ranked NCMC with just three losses headed into winter break.

In Saturday’s finale against PBSU, the Lady Pirates struggled from the field, shooting just 32 percent from the field and 21 percent from beyond the three-point line, falling 68-58.  Nateonia Russell paced the Lady Pirates with 16 points with Mary Copeland adding 11.  For Palm Beach, Ashley Thornton had 17 points, Keri Cooper 12, Savannah McAfee 10, and Leah Jessup 10 points.  NCMC trailed 32-29 at the half and was outscored 36-29 in the final 20 minutes.

In Friday’s opener against the Morton Panthers, sophomore Tori Meinecke paced the Lady Pirates attack with a 17 point, 12 rebound effort in a 68-60 NCMC triumph.  North Central dominated the boards, outrebounding Morton 50-28.  Mary Copeland and Jessica Reeter both had 10 points, with Nateonia Russell adding 9 points and 10 rebounds.  Reeter snared 10 boards from her guard position.  

Morton College had 15 points from Shanihya Brown, 13 each from Sophia Remmel and Brynne Katcher, with Alex Stewart contributing 11.