The Northeast Community College women’s basketball team’s season came to an end today in the opening round game of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament in Salina, KS.

The #15 Lady Hawks were defeated by #16 Weatherford Community College of Texas 72-68.

Northeast led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but the Lady Coyotes came back and led at half-time 37-35. While Weatherford led by as many as nine points in the second half (62-53), Northeast came back to cut the lead down to two towards the end of the game (70-68).

Lexi Murphy, Papillion, led Northeast with 19 points. She was followed by Ivana Vuletic, Norrkoping, Sweden, with12. Elsewhere for Northeast, Jaylan Spencer, Omaha, A.J. Johnson, Silver Spring, MD, and Raveen Murray, Merrillville, IN, each finished with nine points.

The Lady Hawks shot 38 percent in the game while Weatherford shot 36 percent. Both teams hit seven three point shots. From the free throw line, Northeast was 72 percent while the Lady Coyotes were 65 percent.

This was the first time Northeast women’s basketball team played in the national tournament since 1977.

Northeast finishes the season 28-5. Weatherford (25-5) will take on top seed Trinity Valley (32-1) in a second round game on Tuesday.