COEUR d'ALENE - Already down their head coach for Saturday's key Scenic West Athletic Conference game against Southern Idaho - the North Idaho College Cardinal women's basketball team also lost their coach on the floor with 2:17 remaining in the game.

Freshman Katie Buskey scored a team-high 16 points, 14 coming in the second half as the 10th-ranked Cardinals edged the Golden Eagles 67-66 at Rolly Williams Court.

"This is a really big win," Buskey said. "Especially since they're our rivals."

According to NIC assistant women's coach Carey Carlson, NIC head coach Chris Carlson was suspended for the game by NIC athletic director Al Williams after he voiced concerns that, because of webcasts, there were more NIC women's games available for opponents to scout, as opposed to the maximum of two game films opponents are obligated to provide to NIC. Carlson is expected to return on Friday when the team travels to Eastern Utah.

Without him, the Cardinals (14-2, 3-0 SWAC) forced 14 first- half turnovers and led 28-24 at halftime.

"We're a team of endurance and mental strength," Carey Carlson said. "I was proud of how well prepared they were entering the game. We had some really good preparation in practice this week and kept it up when it counted late."

The teams exchanged the lead throughout the second half, with Southern Idaho getting its biggest lead of the game at 46-39 on a jumper by Mechela Barnes with 5 minutes remaining.

Point guard Korina Baker hit a 3-pointer to pull NIC to within a point at 55-54, but fouled out less than a minute later.

"Korina was amazing tonight," Carlson said. "When she fouled out, she just joined me on the bench. Kudos to Katie for finishing it off, being strong and stepping up into that spot."

"We all thought she had four fouls, even her," Angela Woods said. "We've all got confidence in each other and someone had to step up."

Baker had 15 points and four steals, and Woods had 11 points for NIC.

Buskey' 3-pointer with 41.2 seconds remaining put NIC up 65-64.

"I was really excited when it went in," Buskey said. "I was a little nervous, but once I'm into the game, I can't even tell what the score is."

"That's what Katie is good at," Woods said. "She really steps up every single game for us."

Tayllor Gipson had 20 points for CSI (9-8, 1-2).

"I was extremely excited with our effort tonight," CSI coach Randy Rogers said. "We fought all the way through tonight, but just didn't make enough plays defensively."

SOUTHERN IDAHO

Gabriela Borges 0-2 0-0 0, Tayllor Gipson 6-19 5-8 20, Kylee Schierman 4-14 6-6 15, Megan Tanner 1-1 0-0 2, Mechela Barnes 4-11 4-4 13, Chakala Carthen 6-13 4-7 16, Jessy Saint-Felix 0-3 0-1 0, Liene Liepina 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-63 19-26 66.

NORTH IDAHO

Angela Woods 4-9 2-4 11, Katie Buskey 5-11 3-3 16, Korina Baker 6-15 2-2 15, Dani Kastrava 0-0 0-0 0, Aimee Durbidge 2-5 1-2 5, Julia Salmio 3-7 0-0 6, Mollie Kramer 0-1 0-0 6, Hannah Love 3-7 0-1 6, Danika Johnson 1-5 0-0 2, Ashleigh Kelman-Poto 3-8 0-0 6. Totals 27-68 8-12 67.

Halftime - NIC 28-24. 3-point goals - CSI 5-14 (Gipson 3-6, Schierman 1-5, Barnes 1-3), NIC 5-14 (Woods 1-4, Buskey 3-6, Baker 1-2, Durbidge 0-1, Salmio 0-1). Rebounds - CSI 49 (Saint-Felix 11), NIC 42 (Salmio, Love 6). Assists - CSI 9 (Barnes, Saint-Felix 3), NIC 10 (Baker 4). Team fouls - CSI 15, NIC 20. Fouled out - Baker.