NIC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cardinals come up short in Vargas' first game as coach

THATCHER, Ariz. — First-year North Idaho College women's basketball coach Louie Vargas was happy about just about everything from Thursday's season opener in the Gila Monster Tournament against Cochise College of Sierra Vista, Ariz. 

The result, he'll deal with for now. 

Despite 38 points from sophomore guard Karsyn Freeman, North Idaho fell to Cochise 76-69 in Vargas' first game as coach after being promoted after the resignation of Nathan Covill after four seasons as coach. Vargas has been the assistant for the past four years. 

"The third quarter, the game kind of got away from us," said Vargas, whose team was outscored 26-18 in the period. "We had some foul trouble and they just came out more aggressive." 

Cochise, which shot 2 of 17 from the 3-point line, was 18 of 30 from the free-throw line. 

"We were trying to guard at 22 feet and were able to cause some turnovers," Vargas said. "We were trying to get them off the ball and look to create some opportunities for ourselves as well. We tried to come back, but our fouls limited us." 

Freeman, from Adna, Wash., shot 15 of 27 from the field, including 6 of 10 from the 3-point line for NIC, which led 36-34 at halftime. 

"She started feeling it a bit today," Vargas said. "A lot of our sets, we were trying to get her the ball and create some opportunities with screens. We moved her to the point guard in the second half to get the ball in her hands a little more, and she did a great job of creating opportunities for everyone else." 

Freshman Karstyn Kiefer (Lakeland High) added eight points for NIC, which faces No. 20 Arizona Western of Yuma, Ariz., today at 10 a.m.

NORTH IDAHO 

Jaelyn McCormack-Marks 2-5 2-2 6, Karsyn Freeman 15-27 2-2 38, Kaytie Aanstad 1-3 0-0 2, Ellanani Fiefea 3-4 2-5 9, Kalea Schlenker 2-8 0-2 4, Liv Whitemarsh 1-3 0-0 2, Karstyn Kiefer 3-7 2-2 8, Myckenzee Mitley 0-0 0-0 0, Kailey Walton 0-2 0-0 0, Stella Barrett 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-61 8-12 69. 

COCHISE  

Victoria Duran 3-6 1-2 7, Gaby Oliver 4-8 2-2 10, Cecy Burruel 5-13 6-9 17, Gloria Maffoma'a Thio 5-6 2-5 12, Paule Nkwetchou Njoukwe 3-4 0-4 6, Dominique Koffi 2-5 0-0 4, Mathilde Frederiksen 0-0 0-0 0, Feliciana Davis 4-7 3-3 12, Tugba Kalan 0-3 0-0 0, Lilianna Jacob 2-3 4-5 8. Totals 28-55 18-30 76. 

North Idaho    15    21    18    15    —    69 

Cochise    17    17    26    16    —    76 

3-point goals — NIC 7-16 (McCormack-Marks 0-2, Freeman 6-10, Fiefea 1-1, Schlenker 0-2, Walton 0-1), CC 2-17 (Duran 0-2, Oliver 0-3, Burruel 1-6, Koffi 0-1, Davis 1-3, Kalan 0-1, Jacob 0-1). Rebounds — NIC 29 (McCormack-Marks, Freeman 5), CC 31 (Maffoma'a Thio 7). Assists — NIC 12 (Schlenker 4), CC 14 (Duran 4). Team fouls — NIC 23, CC 13. Fouled out — none. Technical fouls — McCormack-Marks.