TWIN FALLS - The North Idaho College women's basketball team was some 500 miles from Coeur d'Alene on Saturday night, but it almost felt like a game at Rolly Williams Court.

With the hometown College of Southern Idaho fans cheering wildly for NIC, the 15th-ranked Cardinals pulled away in the last three minutes for a 69-59 victory over No. 6 Salt Lake Community College in the championship game of the Region 18 tournament Saturday night.

"We were grateful they did that," said NIC sophomore Kama Griffitts, the former Coeur d'Alene High star who scored 18 points and was named the tournament MVP. "It made us feel more like at home."

The win clinched a berth at the NJCAA tournament for the third straight year for NIC (28-3), and the second straight for the core group of this team, with nine players back off last year's squad which finished eighth at nationals. It was the second straight year NIC beat Salt Lake (24-5) for the Region 18 title.

"It felt a lot different," NIC coach Chris Carlson said of this year's regional title. "Last year we had a lot of freshmen," he said. "This year, they were talking nationals even before the season started, so expectations are really high. It certainly ran the gamut of emotions."

Tugce Canitez, another all-tourney selection, added 13 points, nine rebounds and four steals for NIC, and former Lakeland High standout Camille Reynolds had 12 points and five rebounds.

"We didn't want it to end," Reynolds said. "We want to stay together as long as we can and make a run at the national title."

Salt Lake took a 58-57 lead with 3:11 left on two free throws by post Jami Mokofisi, who finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

On NIC's next trip down, the Cards threw the ball into Kiki Edwards-Teasley, and the former Lewiston star scored over Mokofisi to give the Cardinals the lead with 3 minutes left. After a travel call on Salt Lake, NIC went right back to Edwards-Teasley, who scored again in the post. Korina Baker then came up with a steal and fed Reynolds for a basket and a five-point lead. and Canitez stole the ball and scored for a 65-58 lead with 52.6 seconds left, and the celebration was near.

"Kiki's two turnaround jumpers in the post were tough shots with 'Moko' on her - that's experience," said Carlson, who thought he was posing for a celebratory photo in the locker room after the game - and wound up getting drenched instead. "After the first one, we set up another way to get it to her."

"They made plays, and we turned it over," Salt Lake coach Betsy Specketer said of the last three minutes. "The team that makes plays down the stretch (usually wins), and they made the plays and we didn't."

NIC's posts battled foul trouble throughout the first half, and former Coeur d'Alene High standout Deanna Dotts came off the bench and provided some key relief in the half. NIC made a five-point play late in the half when Reynolds sank a trey at the top of the key, and Baker was run over setting a screen for her. Baker sank both ends of a one-and-one to make it 35-28 Cardinals. But Salt Lake closed to within 37-35 at intermission.

Salt Lake, which took two of three from NIC during Scenic West Athletic Conference play, opened up a 46-42 lead in the second half, but Griffitts, 4 of 5 from 3-point range, made a 3 and Canitez followed with a 3-point play and NIC was up again 48-46. It went back and forth like that until the last three minutes.

"I think it's more exciting this year," Griffitts said. "Last year we weren't as bonded as we are this year, and this year we really are like a family."

Haley Holmstead added 13 points for Salt Lake, Alli Blake played well around the basket with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Sofia Hepworth added 10 points off the bench.

"These matches with Salt Lake are knockdown, dragout fights," Carlson said, "and I think we just out-boxed them tonight."

Nationals begin March 15 in Salina, Kan. NIC will find out its first-round foe early next week.

"They're as good as anybody in the country," Specketer said. "I hope they win the whole damn thing."

NORTH IDAHO

Camille Reynolds 5-17 0-0 12, Tugce Canitez 5-11 3-3 13, Korina Baker 0-2 7-7 7, Kiki Edwards-Teasley 3-4 1-3 7, Kama Griffitts 7-15 0-0 18, Chantel Divilbiss 1-2 2-2 4, Amy Warbrick 1-4 2-2 4, Julia Salmio 0-0 0-0 0, Amanda Carlton 1-5 0-0 2, Deanna Dotts 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 24-62 15-17 69.

SALT LAKE

Marissa Robbins 2-8 0-2 4, Katie Walker 0-2 0-0 0, Alli Blake 5-11 2-2 12, Jami Mokofisi 5-10 9-12 19, Haley Holmstead 5-8 3-6 13, Sofia Hepworth 3-10 3-4 10, Malori Dixon 0-0 0-0 0, Ami' White 0-0 0-0 0, Megan Johnson 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 20-49 18-28 59.

Halftime - NIC 37-35. 3-point goals - NIC 6-15 (Reynolds 2-5, Baker 0-2, Griffitts 4-5, Divilbiss 0-1, Warbrick 0-1, Carlton 0-1), SLCC 1-6 (Robbins 0-2, Walker 0-2, Hepworth 1-2). Rebounds - NIC 29 (Canitez 9), SLCC 44 (Mokofisi 12). Assists - NIC 11 (Canitez 3), SLCC 11 (Walker 5). Fouled out - Canitez. Total fouls - NIC 19, SLCC 17.