EVERETT, Wash. — North Idaho College, the fourth-seeded team from the East Region, got almost everything it was looking for to start the Northwest Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament Saturday afternoon.

Good defense.

A lead early in the fourth quarter against the top-seeded team from the South Region.

A two-point deficit with 30 seconds remaining.

But Umpqua, which beat NIC in overtime earlier this year, held off the Cardinals again, advancing to the second round with a 68-62 win over the Cardinals at Everett Community College.

NIC held Umpqua — which averages 83.7 points per game — to 25-of-61 shooting. But the Cardinals finished 25 of 73, including 3 of 28 from the 3-point line.

“We played great defense and held them to the lowest output they’ve had all year,” NIC coach Chris Carlson said. “We gave ourselves a chance and it came down to us creating a lot of 3-pointers. We just went 3 for 28. We had so many looks, I’m just shocked that we couldn’t knock a few more down.”

Alivia Williams — one of four freshmen in the starting lineup — scored 20 points for NIC, which finishes 20-9.

Umpqua outrebounded NIC 56-32, led by Darian Mitchell, who finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Riverhawks (26-4) of Roseburg, Ore.

“They just beat us on the boards, and that’s where they got their second shots,” Carlson said. “They’re a big, strong team. Rebounding wins games, and I think with games like this, it shows its meaning.”

Keara Simpson had 10 points and nine rebounds for NIC, including a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter to put the Cardinals up by one. NIC hadn’t played since a Feb. 27 loss at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Wash.

“We hadn’t played in 10 days, while everyone else was still playing last weekend,” Carlson said. “Not being in a game atmosphere for a few days kind of hurt us. We created chances, but didn’t capitalize on them.”

Umpqua advances to face Grays Harbor (18-9) in the second round today.

NORTH IDAHO

Alivia Williams 8-16 4-6 20, Halle Eborall 2-8 2-2 6, Alex Carlton 3-12 2-2 9, Keara Simpson 4-12 0-0 10, Heidi Sellman 7-14 1-3 15, Sydnie Peterson 0-4 0-0 0, Zosha Krupa 0-3 0-0 0, Anna Schrade 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 25-73 9-13 62.

UMPQUA

Sienna Riggle 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor Stricklin 6-15 4-5 18, Macie Reinen 3-6 1-2 7, Lexi Woodard 1-5 0-0 2, Darian Mitchell 11-21 4-6 26, Grace Campbell 2-4 0-2 4, Cielo Gonzalez 2-9 6-7 11. Totals 25-61 15-22 68.

North Idaho 13 13 22 14 — 62

Umpqua 17 19 14 18 — 68

3-point goals — NIC 3-28 (Williams 0-4, Eborall 0-3, Carlton 1-5, Simpson 2-4, Sellman 0-2, Peterson 0-4, Krupa 0-3, Schrade 0-3), Ump 3-13 (Stricklin 2-6, Woodard 0-2, Mitchell 0-2, Gonzalez 1-3). Rebounds — NIC 32 (Simpson 9), Ump 56 (Mitchell 16). Assists — NIC 13 (Eborall 3), Ump 17 (Campbell 5). Team fouls — NIC 21, Ump 13. Fouled out — Eborall.

NWAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

At Everett Community College

Saturday’s Games

Centralia 58, Olympic 39

Big Bend 89, Mt. Hood 53

Grays Harbor 76, Whatcom 65

Umpqua 68, North Idaho 62

Lane 81, Walla Walla 73

Lower Columbia 68, Skagit Valley 52

Peninsula 53, Highline 40

Game 8 — South No. 2 Clackamas (15-10) vs. East No. 2 Wenatchee Valley (24-5), late

Sunday’s Games

Game 9 — Centralia (15-14) vs. Big Bend (26-4), 1 p.m.

Game 10 — Grays Harbor (18-9) vs. Umpqua (26-4), 3 p.m.

Game 11 — Lane (27-3) vs. Lower Columbia (21-9), 5 p.m.

Game 12 — Peninsula (19-8) vs. Winner Game 8, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 16

Semifinals

Game 13 — Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 1 p.m.

Game 14 — Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, 3 p.m.

Sunday, March 17

Championship

Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.

NWAC MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

At Everett Community College

Saturday, March 16

Semifinals

Game 13 — North Idaho (29-2) vs. Lane (27-3), 5 p.m.

Game 14 — Spokane (22-9) vs. Walla Walla (21-10), 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 17

Championship

Semifinal winners, 4:45 p.m.