The North Central Missouri College basketball teams were in action in Quincy, IL Saturday as they competed with John Wood Community College in a women’s-men’s doubleheader. Neither North Central squad could return home with a win as the women lost 72-58 and the men fell 64-63.
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Lady Pirates
The Lady Pirates came out flat and fell behind early. At halftime, North Central trailed by nine points. The Lady Pirates were able to cut the lead to two points at two different times in the second half, but could never find a way to take the lead. John Wood pulled away down the stretch, dropping the Lady Pirates to 17-5 on the season.
Leading the way for the Lady Pirates was Ashley Zeih, who had 17 points. Jordan Ewigman added 12 points and Maggie Arnall finished with nine.
The Lady Pirates will look to get back on track on Tuesday as they travel to face Crowder Community College in Neosho at 6 p.m.
Pirates
The North Central men went toe-to-toe with the 15th-ranked Division II junior college in the nation and nearly pulled off the upset. The Pirates jumped out to an early lead, but John Wood came back and the two schools traded blows throughout a very physical first half.
North Central trailed 35-33 at the break, but stayed right with John Wood in the second half. The Pirates led by one with under 10 seconds to go, but a foul was called in the lane, allowing John Wood to put in a pair of free throws with six seconds showing on the clock. NCMC couldn’t get a shot to fall in response and suffered a one-point loss.
“That was probably the most physical game I have seen in my 11 years here,” Pirates’ Head Coach Steve Richman said. “It was a disappointing loss because I felt like we outplayed them in the game. They are the 15th-ranked team in the nation, though and to go on the road to their house and have an opportunity to beat them like that really says a lot for us.”
JaWan Davis led the Pirates with 25 points and eight rebounds. Reggie Maxwell scored 16 points and had 6 rebounds for the Pirates, who fell to 11-9 on the season with the loss.
The NCMC men will face off with Central College in a make-up game tonight at the Ketcham Community Center in Trenton at 7:30.