The North Central Missouri College women, despite being down to just seven players on the active roster, continue to improve their play every time they hit the floor, with the latest example in a 70-38 victory over rival Penn Valley on Saturday afternoon at the Ketcham Community Center.
Playing “very motivated” throughout the contest, the Lady Pirates moved to 3-0 in Region XVI play, and 15-5 overall, dropping PVCC to 0-3 in Region XVI play, and 6-11 overall. Kendey Eaton scored 25 points (21 in the first half) to pace the Lady Pirates, while Madison Gonseth added 15 (all in the second half), Sarah Lamp 13 (with 20 rebounds), and McKinley Hurley 10 points go to with seven assists.
North Central played the game without Head Coach Jenni Croy, forced to sit out the game following an ejection at Cottey College earlier in the week. That ruling by the NJCAA played a large part in the ‘motivation’ showed by the Lady Pirates, who were led on the bench by Assistant Coach Lesli Collins. North Central led 35-15 after a scintillating first half, with Coach Croy, who listened to the broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7, telling NCMCPirates.com, “I thought the girls came out very fired up.”
The Lady Pirates defense played their finest 40 minutes of the season, particularly against Penn Valley sophomore Mia Cushon, who came into Trenton averaging 28.6 points per game, leading the country, and left with a two-point performance against the Region XVI-leading Lady Pirates.
Photo credit – Phil Schlarb via NCMCPirates.com / Trenton, MO
