The 12th ranked North Central Missouri College women's basketball team punched their ticket to the NJCAA DII National Tournament on Saturday when they secured a hard-fought victory over National Park College 70-58. The win, fueled by a strong team effort and efficient free-throw shooting, improved the team's record to 23-7 for the year. For the 4th straight year, the Lady Pirates will be heading to Joplin, MO for the national tournament which begins March 17th. Seeding details for the tournament will be revealed in the selection show on Tuesday at noon.
The Central Plains District Championship showcased a balanced offensive attack, with multiple players stepping up in key moments for NCMC. Jessica Reeter led the way for North Central, scoring a game-high 19 points while knocking down two three-pointers and going an impressive 11-for-14 from the free-throw line. She also contributed three assists and three steals, making her presence felt on both ends of the floor. Gladys Brown was another standout performer, filling the stat sheet with 11 points, five rebounds, six assists, and six steals, proving to be a disruptive force throughout the contest.
Jacie Morris also played a pivotal role, adding 11 points and six rebounds, while Kayanna Cranmer chipped in with nine points, including a three-pointer. Off the bench, Honor Mannings provided a boost with seven points and three rebounds. Tailer Morrison and Cranmer each contributed nine points, with Morrison showing efficiency in the paint.
Defensively, North Central controlled the boards, outrebounding National Park College 39-32, led by Oliviya Tinoco, who pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. Despite not finding her rhythm offensively, Tinoco made a significant impact with her rebounding and defensive efforts.
Although National Park College put up a strong fight, led by Hannah McLain's 14 points and Kishaliya Doss's 10 points and five rebounds, they struggled with shooting efficiency, hitting only 29.2% from the field. North Central capitalized on their ability to get to the free-throw line, converting 33 of 44 attempts, compared to National Park's 17 of 24, which proved to be a decisive factor in the outcome.
Despite committing 26 turnovers, North Central's defensive intensity and ability to create extra possessions ultimately propelled them to a 70-59 victory, securing an important win on their home floor.
