NCMC women's basketball fell just short against Allen County Community College on the road Wednesday. The Lady Pirates, ranked 11th in the latest NJCAA DII poll, could not overcome a slow start despite a valiant comeback attempt. When all was said and done, NCMC dropped the game 75-70.
The Lady Pirates were led by Gladys Brown, who delivered an all-around performance with 16 points on an efficient 7-of-12 shooting, complemented by 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Brown's energy and hustle were instrumental in keeping NCMC within striking distance throughout the game.
Oliviya Tinoco provided a spark from the perimeter, scoring 12 points, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, while also adding 2 steals. Jacie Morris chipped in 8 points, showcasing her presence in the paint with 5 rebounds. Abbi Fountain dominated the boards with a team-high 7 rebounds, adding 4 points to her efforts, and Jessica Reeter dished out 6 assists while contributing 5 points.
Off the bench, A'Myah Bankston displayed her scoring ability, contributing 10 points, including 2-of-7 from three-point range. Kayanna Cranmer added 7 points and 3 rebounds in her limited minutes, while Honor Mannings pitched in with 8 points and 2 rebounds.
As a team, NCMC shot 46.4% from the field and 30% from three-point range but struggled slightly at the free-throw line, hitting 63.2% of their attempts. They were outrebounded 32-28 and committed 17 turnovers, which proved costly.
NCMC was coming off a 6-game winning streak but had not played in 14 days and early on showed rust. The Lady Pirates trailed by 22 points at halftime but erased the deficit completely in the second half before coming up just short of an improbable victory.
Allen County was paced by Nikki Gear, who scored a game-high 15 points with efficient shooting (5-of-7 from the field), and Audrey Peek, who came off the bench to pour in 17 points, including 2 three-pointers. Tawhirikura Doyle and Juana Rojas added 12 and 11 points, respectively, while Yolaine Luthi controlled the boards with 11 rebounds.
The Lady Pirates will look to regroup in a home matchup with Des Moines Area CC on Friday. Tipoff for that game in the Ketcham Community Center is set for 12:30pm.