COEUR d'ALENE - Freshman Katie Buskey is getting used to hitting big shots for the North Idaho Cardinals.

Her latest one gave the 12th-ranked Cardinals the lead for good with 55 seconds left in a 63-58 win over the Utah State University-Eastern Utah Golden Eagles in a Scenic West Athletic Conference game Saturday at Rolly Williams Court.

"She's been very clutch for us," NIC coach Chris Carlson said. "She didn't have a rhythm in the first half, but picked herself up in the second."

Buskey also hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer two weeks ago against Snow College to send a game to overtime.

"I thought we did a really good job of stepping up in the second half," Buskey said. "We need to have better starts to the first half and play a full 40-minute game."

Buskey scored five of the final seven points for the Cardinals (19-4, 8-2 SWAC) to close out the game.

"I don't let nerves get to me at all," Buskey said. "I just need to remain confident in my shooting."

With the NIC win and a loss by Snow College at Salt Lake, the Cardinals moved into a first place tie with the Badgers for the conference lead. Snow travels to NIC next Saturday.

"We're really looking forward to it," Carlson said. "This is when some great basketball is happening and players are starting to spark."

Priscila Santos finished with a game-high 29 points for Utah State-Eastern Utah (13-12, 5-5).

"That's normally the way she plays," Utah State-Eastern coach Dave Paur said. "She's had three games over 40 points and a 50-point game this year. Teams have gone to a box and 1 on her in the conference, but she's still playing well."

Eastern Utah, which was tied with NIC for the conference lead entering their Jan. 20 game, has lost four straight games.

"They've got a really good team," Paur said. "We've been playing horrible the last three weeks. Tonight, I was a little frustrated that we kept letting them drive to the basket. If we don't give up those drives - we probably win."

UTAH STATE-EASTERN UTAH

Hailee Parry 3-8 0-0 8, Candice Cornaby 0-0 0-0 0, Sarah Fletcher 0-0 0-0 0, Whitney Fieldstead 1-1 0-0 2, Amy Arbon 2-6 0-0 4, Kathryn Bigelow 1-1 0-0 2, Priscila Santos 10-20 9-13 29, Abbie Kay 1-5 6-6 8, Brooke Slade 1-2 0-1 2, Caitlin Nelson 1-3 1-2 3. Totals 20-46 16-22 58.

NORTH IDAHO

Angela Woods 3-3 0-1 8, Katie Buskey 5-11 3-4 16, Tori Davenport 0-2 0-0 0, Korina Baker 2-10 6-6 10, Aimee Durbidge 2-5 4-6 8, Julia Salmio 4-11 3-4 12, Mollie Kramer 0-0 0-0 0, Hannah Love 1-2 0-0 2, Danika Johnson 0-0 3-6 3, Ashleigh Kelman-Poto 1-4 2-2 4. Totals 18-48 21-29 63.

Halftime - USEU 31-30. 3-point goals - USEU 2-6 (Parry 2-4, Kay 0-1, Nelson 0-1), NIC 6-18 (Woods 2-2, Buskey 3-8, Davenport 0-1, Baker 0-3, Durbidge 0-2, Salmio 1-2). Rebounds - USEU 29 (Nelson, Santos 5), NIC 36 (Salmio 12). Assists - USEU 10 (Parry, Kay 3), NIC 9 (Baker, Salmio 3). Team fouls - USEU 22, NIC 19. Fouled out - Nelson.