NCMC women's basketball split a pair of games against ranked opponents on their annual Florida Trip over the weekend. The Lady Pirates, ranked 12th, took down 11th ranked Morton College on Friday before falling to 19th ranked Palm Beach State College on Saturday. Palm Beach hosted the event dubbed the Panther Holiday Classic. The games closed out NCMC's 1st semester action and the team holds a 13-3 record heading into the holiday break. Here are some details from each game.
NCMC 68, Morton College 60
Tori Meinecke emerged as a standout player for the Lady Pirates, showcasing an impressive all-around performance. Meinecke dominated the boards, tallying an exceptional 12 rebounds, including 7 crucial offensive boards, while also contributing 17 points. Her ability to control the paint and convert opportunities around the rim played a pivotal role in the team's success.
Jessica Reeter also played a pivotal role, contributing 10 points and 10 rebounds in a balanced display. Reeter's ability to grab crucial rebounds and provide stability in the backcourt added depth to NCMC's offensive and defensive strategies.
Nateonia Russell contributed 9 points despite a difficult 1-10 shooting performance. She did her damage from the charity stipe, knocking in 7 of 11.
Despite shooting just 35.5% as a team, the Lady Pirates showed their grit in pulling out a hard fought victory. On the glass is where NCMC really separated themselves, pulling down 50 rebounds to Morton's 28.
Palm Beach State 68, NCMC 58
In the losing effort, Nateonia Russell contributed 16 points along with 3 steals, showcasing her defensive tenacity and ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities. However, the team encountered difficulties in shooting efficiently, registering 31.8% from the field and 20.8% from beyond the arc. The shooting woes were too much to overcome against the host Panthers.
Jessica Reeter, NCMC's leading scorer so far this season, faced a challenging shooting night and was unable to find her rhythm scoring 0 points. Bailey Fleming and Mary Copeland combined for 17 points but found it challenging to combat Palm Beach State College's defensive pressure.
The Lady Pirate's bench unit struggled to provide substantial scoring support, with the reserves collectively contributing 19 points.
Palm Beach State College displayed a well-rounded performance, capitalizing on their opportunities and shooting at a higher percentage from the field (44.8%) and the free-throw line (73.7%). Ashley Thornton led their offensive charge with 17 points, while Keri Cooper's double-double, consisting of 12 points and 11 rebounds, significantly impacted the game.