By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

COEUR d’ALENE — There was no sophomore slump to be found on the court at North Idaho College on Saturday. 

Just fast starts and the host school moving one step closer to some pretty big goals. 

In the men’s game, sophomore Vaughn Weems, who leads the NJCAA in scoring at 27.7 points per game, had 26 points and six assists for the Cardinals (15-12, 5-7 SWAC) in a 100-83 win over Salt Lake (17-10, 5-7) at Rolly Williams Court. Freshman Dace Pleasant also scored 26 and sophomore Deng Diew added 21 points and 12 rebounds for NIC, which moved into a tie for third in the conference standings with three games remaining. 

“They’re all buying into each other and sharing the ball,” NIC men's coach Corey Symons said. “The leading scorer in the country led us with six assists tonight. That doesn’t happen very often and scorers have a scorer's mentality, but Vaughn shared the ball really well. We're sharing the ball and we’ve got to keep buying into the group and we’re playing well right now.” 

In the women’s game, freshman Esmeralda Galindo scored 13 of her game-high 27 points in the first quarter as the Cardinals (17-9, 9-3 SWAC) beat the 23rd-ranked Bruins (18-7, 7-4) 71-61 to move a full game into the conference lead with three games remaining. 

“The start was great,” NIC women's coach Nathan Covill said. “We shot the ball incredibly well and the girls came out focused. We could have been better in the third and fourth quarter, but that first quarter gave us that buffer and we were able to hold onto it. Esmeralda was good at the start and Kylani was great to finish, but we got a lot of big minutes. They’re buying in and they’re implementing game plans and putting them into action right now.” 

NIC faces Southern Idaho (20-7, 8-4) next Saturday in Twin Falls.

MEN: NIC led 53-38 at halftime and finished the game 33-of-56 shooting. 

“The nice thing is we're finally being patient and taking good shots,” Symons said. “This might be a season high with 17 assists, so we’re sharing the ball and doing the right things down the stretch. We’re playing really well heading down the stretch and those guys are all buying into what we’re doing right now, and we’re taking advantage of that.” 

NIC concludes the regular season at Utah State-Eastern (Feb. 27) and at Snow (March 1). 

“It really gives us a run going to a stretch on the road that isn’t going to be easy,” Symons said. “Going to CSI, then USU-Eastern and Snow, those are games we lost earlier this season. We’re playing well and have to continue to buy in.” 

NIC has won four of its last six starting with a 90-68 win at Salt Lake on Jan. 25 to move into third in the conference.
“The first part of the year, it took a while for everyone to buy in,” Symons said. “Everyone wanted to be a leading scorer, or lead in assists. And now, they’re buying into their role and the team, and it’s been a different guy every night. We’re just taking turns and buying in.” 

Mason Bendinger scored 18 points for Salt Lake. 

“They’re a good team and they do a good job of spacing the floor and playing through Vaughn,” said Salt Lake coach Dave Rice, the former UNLV coach. “He’s one of the best, if not the best player in junior college. They were ready and they did a good job of executing. Deng is one of the reasons why they’re playing so well right now. They’ve figured out their roles and Corey does a good job as he always does and they’re sharing the ball. And they’re tough to guard right now and tough minded. They’re very, very efficient on the defensive end right now as well.” 

NIC faces Southern Idaho (20-7, 8-4) next Saturday in Twin Falls.

SALT LAKE 

Mason Bendinger 8-10 0-1 18, Sam Sivulich 4-8 0-0 10, Coen Collier 1-5 1-2 3, Ethan Copeland 4-11 2-2 14, Xavier Edmonds 3-10 4-5 10, Trey Brown 6-13 0-0 16, Luke Smellie 1-4 0-0 3, Kade Rice 1-2 0-0 3, Devin Carlson 3-3 0-0 6. Totals 31-66 7-10 83. 

NORTH IDAHO 

Vaughn Weems 8-14 8-9 26, Deng Diew 6-12 9-16 21, Ne’quan Brown 1-3 0-0 3, Dace Pleasant 9-13 2-2 26, Tayshawn Colvin 1-2 0-0 3, Mehmet Behner 0-0 0-0 0, Jeremiah Sibley 0-1 1-2 1, Sam Marbury 2-4 0-1 5, Jacori Ervin 0-0 0-0 0, Bryce Henry 0-0 0-0 0, Ajayi Simmons 6-7 1-1 16. Totals 33-56 21-31 100. 

Halftime — NIC 53-38. 3-point goals — SLCC 14-36 (Bendinger 2-4, Sivulich 2-5, Collier 0-3, Copeland 4-9, Edmonds 0-2, Brown 4-8, Smellie 1-3, Rice 1-2), NIC 13-22 (Weems 2-5, Brown 0-1, Pleasant 6-8, Colvin 1-2, Sibley 0-1, Marbury 1-2, Simmons 3-3). Rebounds — SLCC 23 (Edmonds 8), NIC 37 (Diew 12). Assists — SLCC 16 (Edmonds, Brown, Smellie 3), NIC 17 (Weems 6). Team fouls — SLCC 23, NIC 13. Fouled out — Sivulich. Technical fouls — Weems. 

WOMEN: Sophomore Kylani Rookstool scored 20 points for the Cardinals, who shot 26-of-49. 

“We did get the rebounds we needed to,” Covill said. “We weren’t as good as we need to be on the glass. But our defense is what keeps us in games. Marci (Grayer, Salt Lake coach) did a good job of adjusting, but we were able to steam the tides. I’m proud of these girls. They weren’t given anything and just proud of the ladies.” 

NIC has won two of three over second-place Salt Lake and split with Southern Idaho during the regular season. 

The Scenic West women's champion plays host to the Region 18 women's tournament March 13-14.

“If we take care of business on Saturday, we might have some people coming to Coeur d’Alene in mid-March for a tournament,” Covill said. “I’m really excited for the opportunity these ladies have in front of them because of the work they’ve put in and the commitment they’ve made from listening to (NIC assistant coach) Louie (Vargas) and I. I’m just proud and happy for them. They should enjoy this on Sunday, and again on Monday.” 

Simran Williams scored 25 points for Salt Lake. 

“For us, we just didn’t communicate,” Grayer said. “We got lost on defense and we didn’t talk. We’ve been struggling with that all year, and it hurt us because all of them can shoot it.” 

NIC has won seven of its last eight games. 

“I’ve known it since the jamboree they were capable of putting a run together,” Grayer said. “I told my coaches that NIC was going to be good during preseason, I was surprised because of what their record was. I knew they were going to be a top dog, but it was about those pieces clicking together.” 

SALT LAKE 

Simran Williams 8-14 9-12 25, Ahnica Russell-Brown 2-3 0-0 4, Nari Powers 3-13 0-1 7, Tahys Da Silva 2-8 0-0 5, Jeanne Rodriguez 2-2 1-4 5, Blanche Toualeu 0-0 0-0 0, Autumn Agnew 0-2 0-0 0, Ines Babaya 1-3 1-1 3, Laura Di Stefano 5-10 0-2 12. Totals 23-56 11-20 61. 

NORTH IDAHO 

Chloe Collin 1-3 2-2 4, Kylani Rookstool 8-11 4-4 20, Esmeralda Galindo 10-19 5-6 27, Iratxe Amorrortu 3-9 1-4 9, Summer Falaefa 2-2 0-0 6, Tiarnee Smith 1-2 0-0 2, Ripeka Edwards 1-3 0-0 3, Emmalee Secrest 0-0 0-0 0, Tayler Adams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-49 12-16 71. 

Salt Lake    12    15    22    12    —    61 

North Idaho    27    14    16    14    —    71 

3-point goals — SLCC 4-23 (Williams 0-3, Russell-Brown 0-1, Powers 1-6, Da Silva 1-7, Babaya 0-1, Di Stefano 2-5), NIC 7-20 (Collin 0-1, Rookstool 0-2, Galindo 2-7, Amorrortu 2-5, Faleafa 2-2, Edwards 1-3). Rebounds — SLCC 20 (Rodriquez, Di Stefano 4), NIC 32 (Amorrortu 8). Assists — SLCC 6 (Rodriquez 3), NIC 14 (Rookstool 5). Team fouls — SLCC 18, NIC 17. Fouled out — none. 

    KYLE DISHAW PHOTOGRAPHY North Idaho College freshman guard Esmeralda Galindo drives to the basket during the first half of Saturday's Scenic West Athletic Conference game against Salt Lake at Rolly Williams Court.