In a battle of ranked NJCAA Region 16 foes, #15 North Central Missouri College battled to a hard-fought 71-67 victory over #22 Jefferson College on Saturday. The win improved NCMC's season mark to 15-7 and a perfect 3-0 halfway through the Region 16 schedule.
It was a game that came down to efficiency at the free-throw line and dominance on the boards, areas the Lady Pirates excelled. Despite shooting just 31.9% from the field, NCMC found their advantage in rebounding, pulling down 54 total boards, including 20 on the offensive end, which provided crucial second-chance opportunities.
Jessica Reeter led the scoring effort with a game-high 21 points, fueled by three three-pointers and a solid 6-for-8 performance from the free-throw line. She also chipped in three rebounds and an assist while limiting herself to just one turnover. Oliviya Tinoco added 12 points, knocking down two shots from beyond the arc and securing eight rebounds, making her presence felt on both ends of the court.
Jacie Morris contributed 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds, while Gladys Brown had an all-around impact with six assists, six rebounds, and four steals, despite struggling from the field. The Pirates also saw key contributions from their bench, with Talicia Byrd providing a spark with six points and five rebounds, and Tailer Morrison grabbing seven rebounds to go with four points.
While Jefferson College held a higher shooting percentage at 39.7%, NCMC made up for it with relentless rebounding and aggression at the free-throw line, where they attempted 28 shots compared to Jefferson's 10. Lauren Bennett was a force for Jefferson, leading her team with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Josie Allen added 19 points, but their efforts weren't enough to overcome the Lady Pirates' depth and rebounding dominance.
The win came on Sophomore Recognition Day for the Lady Pirates. Honored in a postgame ceremony were A'Myah Bankston, Gladys Brown, Bailey Fleming, Abbi Fountain, Jacie Morris, Jessica Reeter and Oliviya Tinoco.
