The North Central Missouri College Lady Pirates basketball team improved to 10-0 and set a new school record on Wednesday night, getting in a game at the Ketcham Community Center despite the icy weather.
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NCMC hosted Southwestern Iowa Community College and beat the Lady Spartans, 88-67. The 10-0 start is best start in school history and breaks last season’s record of 9-0.
“This was a good win for us. It really fun to see who will step up each night for this team,” Head Coach James Arnold said.
Amber Vandevender had her best game of the season, scoring a game-high 24 points. Vandevender scored 15 points in the first half as the Lady Pirates pulled away from SWICC. North Central outscored the Lady Spartans in the first half, 53-30.
Tiara Johnson and Jillian Palan both finished the first half with 10 or more points. Johnson had 10 points and Palan scored 12 points each in the opening half.
North Central outscored Southwestern in the final four minutes of the first half, 26-9. In the second half NCMC maintained their lead. The Lady Pirates had eight different players score and five players score 10 or more points.
“The depth of this team should really pay off down the road,” Arnold said. “It really does make us tough to guard.”
Johnson finished the game with a triple double – 14 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Brittany Parker went two-for-two from three-point range and finished with 14 points.
“Tiara got the triple double she has been flirting with,” Arnold said. “Brittany Parker was spectacular off the bench and Megan Doty continues to shoot well in a reserve role.”
Palan was six-of-eight shooting from the floor and finished the game with 18 points. Doty continued her strong play off the bench, scoring 11 points for the Lady Pirates.
Tiffany Troutwine led the scoring for Southwestern with 15 points. Margaret Franks finished with 11 points and Kimberly Wolfer add 10 points. Gilman City graduate Whitney Houser had four second-half points for the Lady Spartans.
Saturday, the Lady Pirates host Hannibal-LaGrange’s junior varsity. The game is set to begin at 2 p.m.