PRICE, Utah - Freshman Tugce Canitez had 19 points and seven rebounds to lead the North Idaho Cardinals past the Colorado Northwestern Spartans 88-57 in the opening round of the 2010 Region 18 tournament on the campus of Eastern Utah on Thursday.

"The good thing was we were able to take care of business today," North Idaho coach Chris Carlson said. "We were able to play everyone and keep a lot of our main players fresh for the next couple of days."

Chantel Divilbiss was 6 of 7 from the field for 17 points off the bench for the Cardinals (24-6), who will face Southern Idaho today in a semifinal contest at 11 a.m.

"Chantel hit a lot of pull-up jumpers and knocked down some 3s," Carlson said. "She played with a nice rhythm today - it was really good to see from the entire team."

Camille Reynolds added 11 points for North Idaho.

Da'naiveia McDade had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Spartans, who finish their season 3-26.

Of playing rival Southern Idaho for the fifth time, Carlson added that getting Thursday's win can help them in the long run.

"We've got a good game under our belts down here," Carlson said. "We just played them two weeks ago, so we're familiar with what they are doing now. We're getting healthier now and it should be a good game."

COLORADO NORTHWESTERN

Yateria Wilson 1-11 0-0 2, Arial Wilson 0-1 0-0 0, Kelsey Samuelson 2-6 3-3 7, Charlotte Epperson 3-9 2-6 9, Carmelita Begay 1-2 0-0 2, Keosha Blue 4-8 0-0 9, Danielle Jackson 4-16 3-5 13, Da'naiveia McDade 4-9 6-9 14. Totals 19-62 14-23 57.

NORTH IDAHO

Chantel Divilbiss 6-7 3-4 17, Camille Reynolds 2-6 6-6 11, Timena Shebala 0-1 0-0 0, Amy Warbrick 3-6 1-4 8, Mariana Lamperti 0-0 1-2 1, KiKi Edwards-Teasley 3-10 2-2 8, Kama Griffitts 2-5 0-0 5, Katie Sanders 2-5 0-0 4, Sadie Lazzarini 0-3 0-0 0, Amanda Carlton 2-3 2-2 6, Deanna Dotts 3-4 2-2 9, Tugce Canitez 7-11 3-5 19. Totals 30-61 20-27 88.

Halftime - NIC 39-22. 3-point goals - CNCC 5-17 (Wilson 0-4, Samuelson 0-1, Epperson 1-5, Begay 1-1, Blue 1-1, Jackson 2-3, McDade 0-2), NIC 8-14 (Divilbiss 2-3, Reynolds 1-2, Warbrick 1-4, Griffitts 1-2, Dotts 1-1, Canitez 2-2). Rebounds - CNCC 31 (McDade 8), NIC 48 (Edwards-Teasley, Dotts, Canitez 7). Assists - CNCC 8 (Samuelson 2), NIC 14 (Warbrick 5). Team fouls - CNCC 19, NIC 19. Fouled out - McDade.

REGION 18 TOURNAMENTS

At Price, Utah

Times PST

Thursday's Games

Salt Lake 104, Colorado Northwestern 69

Southern Idaho 76, Snow 72

Friday's Games

1 p.m. - No. 2 Eastern Utah (21-9) vs. Salt Lake/Colorado Northwestern winner

6:30 - No. 1 North Idaho (26-4) vs. Southern Idaho (20-11)

Saturday's Game

6:30 p.m. - Championship game

Thursday's Games

North Idaho 88, Colorado Northwestern 57.

Snow 92, Eastern Utah 69

Friday's Games

11 a.m. - No. 2 Southern Idaho (22-8) vs. North Idaho (24-6)

4:30 p.m. - No. 1 Salt Lake (24-5) vs. Snow (22-9)

Saturday's Game

4 p.m. - Championship game