COEUR d'ALENE - It had been a few years since Korina Baker had played a second half like the one she had in Thursday's nonconference women's basketball game at Rolly Williams Court.

Baker, a 5-foot-7 sophomore guard from Valleyford, Wash., scored 16 of her team-high 21 points in the second half as the 15th-ranked North Idaho Cardinals beat the fifth-ranked Casper (Wyo.) Thunderbirds 69-63 on the opening night of the Bigfoot-Cardinal Classic.

With NIC trailing 54-51, Baker hit a 3-pointer to tie the game with 4:25 remaining. After a basket from Ashleigh Kelman-Poto gave NIC a 56-54 lead, Baker scored seven of the team's final 11 points.

"It was more that we wanted it tonight," said Baker of the win. "I knew the only way that we were going to win is if I showed us how to do it."

Baker is the only returning starter from last year's NJCAA championship team.

"It's been a big change, but I've been stepping into it pretty well," Baker said. "I'm starting to make my mark this season. This win feels amazing and I really want to do it again on Saturday."

Freshman Angela Woods scored 11 points for NIC (5-1), which forced 27 turnovers, 17 in the first half.

"This is our biggest win of the year by far," NIC coach Chris Carlson said. "Casper is a good team and we let one slip away against Pima. Hopefully this win helps us find our identity. I knew Korina has it in her to play like she did tonight. She really stepped up tonight and played fantastic."

Bailey Holland scored 17 points for Casper (7-1), which travels to Community Colleges of Spokane tonight before playing at NIC again on Saturday at 3 p.m.

"We've got a lot of respect for them," Casper coach Dwight Gunnare said of NIC. "They're a very well coached team. When you get a chance to play a team like this, this is what makes you better. I'm glad we've got another chance against them on Saturday."

NIC hosts Sheridan (Wyo.) College today at 5:30 p.m.

CASPER COLLEGE

Bailey Holland 6-11 2-4 17, Alyssa Schmidt 0-0 0-0 0, Shelby Stewart 1-6 0-0 3, Yalandra Tyson 3-5 1-4 7, Rosalie Cutri 3-6 2-3 8, Madara Gulbe 2-7 2-4 7, Shelby Garska 0-3 2-3 2, Kaynesha Zinn 0-0 0-0 0, Talor Diehl 3-8 3-4 12, KeArrow Jenkins 2-7 3-3 7. Totals 20-53 15-25 63.

NORTH IDAHO

Angela Woods 3-10 3-4 11, Katie Buskey 1-8 5-10 7, Tori Davenport 1-2 0-0 2, Korina Baker 8-14 2-5 21, Aimee Durbidge 1-4 1-2 3, Julia Salmio 3-6 5-6 11, Mollie Kramer 0-1 0-0 0, Hannah Love 3-6 0-0 6, Danika Johnson 0-1 0-2 0, Ashleigh Kelman-Poto 3-7 2-2 8. Totals 23-60 18-32 69.

Halftime - NIC 31-26. 3-point goals - CC 8-18 (Holland 3-4, Stewart 1-3, Gulbe 1-3, Garska 0-2, Diehl 3-6), NIC 5-14 (Woods 2-4, Buskey 0-2, Baker 3-5, Kastrava 0-1, Kramer 0-1, Love 0-1). Rebounds - CC 44 (Jenkins 7), NIC 40 (Salmio 8). Assists - CC 10 (Stewart, Cutri, Gulbe, Diehl 2), NIC 9 (Buskey, Baker, Salmio 2). Team fouls - CC 25, NIC 24. Fouled out - Cutri, Kelman-Poto.