LUBBOCK, TX – The Northeast Community College women’s basketball team’s season came to end Tuesday following its loss to Vincennes University (IN) at the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA’s) Division I national tournament here. The Trailblazers edged the Hawks 57-51 in the single elimination tournament.
Matt Svehla, Hawks coach, said his team had a difficult time finding its rhythm.
“To get to the national tourney, we needed to play good basketball and we did. Unfortunately, our play versus Vincennes was not at that level and it cost us. Give some credit to Vincennes, but we were really off today.”
Northeast was the top shooting team heading into the tournament, but Svehla said the Hawks’ shooting percentages were at a season low in Tuesday’s game.
“Thirty-two percent from the field, 18-percent from the three-point line and 53-percent free throws will not win many basketball games during the regular season – let alone at the national tourney. I also think that the poor shooting affected our energy. When shots are falling out, it takes away the bounce in one’s step and we seemed to play without much bounce. We had okay execution early in the game, but we missed several bunnies and only made five or nine free throws in the first half.”
Those missed shots resulted in the Hawks trailing by ten at halftime. Svehla said despite the poor shooting, Northeast played until the end, but they could not get it done.
“We trailed by four points with 1:30 left, but we had empty possessions where we turned it over or failed to convert. Our shooting had been so good all year, but not today. We wish we would have played better, but we had a great year and should be proud of that.”
The Hawks were led by Maeva Kitantou with 10 points, five assists, four rebounds and one blocked shot, and Raveen Murray who had 10 points, five rebounds and one assist. Sydney Koel and Bianca McDonald finished with seven points each while Brooke Bauer had 6, Francesca Minali, 5, Hannah Riley, four and Kara Valsek, two.
Vincennes was led by Brooke Dossett and Chelsea Bentley with 11 points each.
Northeast ends the season at 28-5. Vincennes (29-5) will now face Salt Lake Community College in the next round of the tournament.