| At a CEU home game in January, Veva Whitear steps around North Idaho’s Megan McIntyre. CEU lost to NIC in the first round of the tournament. |
In a quarterfinal playoff game against North Idaho College in Twin Falls on March 10, College of Eastern Utah’s Lady Eagles finished their season, losing 63-78
The game began with each team responding to the other’s plays, CEU appeared to be in a good position as they edged ahead to a seven-point lead just five minutes left in the half. But unable to put another shot in before the buzzer, NIC ended the half ahead by 10.
As they returned from the half, down 22-32, the Lady Eagles took NIC’s lead down to six after two field goals by Whitney Fardig and Veva Whitear in the first two minutes. However, as NIC score seven points in the next two minutes, they pulled ahead to a 13 point lead.
CEU was unable to knock the Cardinals’ lead below eight points for the rest of the game. With five minutes left in the half, and down by eight, the Lady Eagles missed six shots from the field, sinking just four field goals.
NIC made six field goals, two of them three-pointers, and made six foul shots in the last five minutes.
In the end, NIC edged ahead by as much as 16 points, and finished the game up by 15, with a final score of 78-63.
The biggest scoring difference came at the foul line. CEU made 10 of 13 field goals, averaging 77 percent for the game. But CEU fouled 19 times, while NIC fouled just 14. With 28 shots from the line, NIC made 22, averaging 79 percent.
Janeen Nelson made 19 points, including four three-pointers. Whitear made 17 points, and led her team with three assists. Jan Glover made 16 points, including two three-pointers. Fardig made five points and led the team with nine rebounds.
NIC’s Sarah Dennehy led her team with 21 points; Jeni Boesel had 20 points; Sheena Hinkle had 13 points, including three three-pointers; and Ahlee Thomas had 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
NIC advanced to play Salt Lake Community College’s Lady Bruins, but lost 72-76. College of Southern Idaho swept their brackets, with a bye in the first round, and beating Snow 83-63. Snow had beaten Dixie in the first round, 67-60. The final round of the tournament ended with CSI beating SLCC 83-71.