The NCMC Lady Pirates secured a hard-fought victory over Jefferson College on Saturday to win the Region 16 title and move on in NJCAA postseason play. Next up, they will host National Park College on Saturday, March 8th. Tipoff for the Central Plains District Championship will be 1:00pm with a berth to the NJCAA DII National Tournament on the line.
NCMC used strong rebounding and efficient free-throw shooting to power their way to a 56-46 win over Jefferson. Despite struggling from beyond the arc, missing all 11 of their three-point attempts, North Central's dominance on the boards and steady scoring inside made the difference.
Gladys Brown led the charge with a game-high 16 points, shooting 6-of-14 from the field and adding seven rebounds to her stat line. She was aggressive in attacking the basket, earning six trips to the free-throw line and converting four. Honor Mannings provided a crucial spark off the bench, contributing 13 points and eight rebounds while knocking down seven of her ten free-throw attempts. Her presence in the paint helped North Central control second-chance opportunities.
Starting forward Jacie Morris played a steady role, adding eight points and six rebounds while shooting efficiently from the floor. Tailer Morrison was a force on the glass, pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds while chipping in 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting. Her defensive presence in the paint helped North Central hold Jefferson to just 25.5% shooting from the field.
Despite offensive struggles from behind the arc, North Central's defense stifled Jefferson, forcing tough shots and holding them to just 13.3% from three-point range. Jessica Reeter, though quiet on the scoreboard with just three points, made an impact as a playmaker with three assists while also grabbing three rebounds.
Jefferson College saw Tai Harvey put up a team-high 15 points while also leading her squad with seven rebounds, but her efforts weren't enough to overcome North Central's advantage in the paint. Lauren Bennett battled for 15 rebounds and scored 10 points, while Josie Allen contributed 11 points despite shooting just 2-of-12 from the field.
The game was won in the rebounding battle, where North Central held a decisive 49-31 edge, including 13 offensive boards leading to second-chance points. Their ability to convert at the free-throw line (69%) compared to Jefferson's struggles (59.3%) also played a key role in sealing the victory.
While it wasn't the sharpest offensive performance, North Central Missouri College leaned on their defensive intensity, rebounding strength, and key contributions from multiple players to grind out the win and keep control of the game from start to finish.
In postgame ceremonies, Jessica Reeter was named Region 16 Player of the Year. Earning 1st Team All-Region honors was Gladys Brown. Head Coach Jenni Croy was named Coach of the Year.
