NIC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cardinals clipped late

COEUR d’ALENE — North Idaho College shot 25% from the field in the fourth quarter as the visiting Big Bend Vikings took the lead with 2:39 remaining to get a 67-66 nonconference win at Rolly Williams Court. 

Big Bend’s Oaklie Jackman scored on a jumper to give Big Bend a 65-64 lead. The Vikings extended the lead to 67-64 on a basket by Claire Cox with 21 seconds remaining. 

“We had chances to win at the buzzer and did some things that were pretty good,” NIC coach Nathan Covill said. “But we just don’t have it yet. We haven’t played in almost two weeks, and we’ve got to try to find ways to be more consistent. And that falls on me.” 

Diana Nelson, a freshman from Timberlake High, scored on a jumper six seconds later to cut the deficit to 67-66 for NIC, which was unable to get shot as time expired. 

“Diana came in and played some big minutes tonight,” Covill said. “That’s the kind of play she is and can be and she just stepped up and played really well.” 

Summer Faleafa, a sophomore from Auckland, New Zealand, had 20 points and seven rebounds and Nelson finished with 16 points and seven rebounds off the bench for NIC (2-5), which faces Miles Community College of Miles City, Mont., on Friday.

Big Bend is 6-0. 

BIG BEND 

Emily Dana 1-3 0-0 2, Saydee Pebley 0-2 0-0 0, Brooke Warren 7-11 4-9 20, Oaklie Jackman 4-10 2-6 11, Mallory Henrie 2-6 2-2 6, Ashlynn Purcell 1-4 0-0 2, Claire Cox 2-3 0-0 5, Oakley Homer 1-8 0-0 2, Kaliyah Evans 6-9 3-6 19. Totals 24-56 11-23 67. 

NORTH IDAHO 

Chloe Collin 3-8 0-0 7, Karsyn Freeman 6-15 0-0 12, Ripeka Edwards 1-4 0-0 3, Summer Faleafa 7-16 4-7 20, Kaytie Aanstad 1-1 0-0 2, Diana Nelson 8-14 0-1 16, Molly Axell 0-0 0-0 0, Liv Whitemarsh 2-4 1-1 5, Sari Murphy 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 28-63 6-11 66. 

Big Bend    19    22    13    13    —    67 

North Idaho    22    24    12    8    —    66 

3-point goals — BBCC 8-22 (Dana 0-2, Warren 2-5, Jackman 1-2, Henrie 0-1, Purcell 0-1, Cox 1-2, Homer 0-5, Evans 4-4), NIC 4-17 (Collin 1-3, Freeman 0-3, Edwards 1-3, Falaefa 2-6, Whitemarsh 0-2). Rebounds — BBCC 36 (Jackman 10), NIC 34 (Collin 9). Assists — BBCC 14 (Jackman 3, Homer 3), NIC 15 (Edwards 5). Team fouls — BBCC 11, NIC 19. Fouled out — none. 

    KYLE DISHAW PHOTOGRAPHY North Idaho College freshman guard Karsyn Freeman drives to the basket during the first half of Wednesday's game against Big Bend at Rolly Williams Court.