North Platte falls in season opener to Thunderbirds

Concordia, Kan. – The North Platte Community College women's basketball team opened the 2022-23 season on the road against Cloud County Community College on Tuesday night. The Thunderbirds strong defensive pressure proved too much, as Cloud County defeated the Knights 82-42.

The Knights fell behind early trailing by seven in the opening minutes of the first quarter. A Samantha Riggles jumper off an inbound gave the Knights their first basket of the season. The Thunderbirds went back to work and managed to stretch their lead to thirteen by the end of the opening quarter, 20-7.

In the second quarter the Thunderbird lead ballooned to nineteen, before a 14-6 run capped off by a layup by Riggles narrowed the deficit to eleven, 33-22. Cloud County halted the momentum swing by connecting from downtown to stretch the deficit to 14 by the halftime break, 36-22.

Riggles connected on a turnaround jumper in the opening seconds of the third quarter, as the deficit was trimmed to twelve. The Cloud County offense once again responded as their lead grew to 28 by the midway point of the quarter. Knights temporarily halted the momentum with a three by Noel Warrior, but the Cloud County offensive attack never cooled down taking a 61-34 lead into the final quarter.

The offense was quiet in the fourth quarter, as the Knights were held to just one field goal in the opening eight minutes. Cloud County continued to add to their lead down the stretch, as they put the finishing touches on their victory.

Riggles paced the Knights with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field. Reece Halley was the top rebounder collecting seven rebounds to accompany her six points.  

North Platte (0-1) will look to rebound as they travel to Torrington, Wyo. to take on the Lancers of Eastern Wyoming on Friday. Tip is set for 6:30 p.m at the Eastern Wyoming College Gymnasium.