Knights end regular season with win over Rams

North Platte, Neb. – A balanced offensive attack led by Fumnanya Ijeh powered the North Platte Community College Knights to an 84-45 victory in the regular season finale over Colorado State University club team on Saturday afternoon.

Ijeh led all scorers with 22 points, as teammates Dayonna Roberts (14), Jada Grigsby (12) and Samantha Riggles (12) rounded out the North Platte players in double figures.

North Platte never trailed in the game as they quickly jumped out to an 18-0 advantage in the opening 3:57 of the first quarter. Colorado State halted the long run with their first basket of the game, before the Knights pushed their lead to 20 on a three by Roberts to close the quarter.

Roberts picked up right where she left off connecting on her second three pointer of the game to open the scoring in the second quarter. Rams and Knights continued to exchange blows for the remainder of the period, as the Knights stretched their lead to 37-17 by the halftime break.

Rams hung around in the third quarter before trimming the deficit to 21 on back-to-back threes by Carlie Elwood. Vanessa Wood responded for North Platte by completing the old fashioned three-point play, before the Knights stretched their lead to 59-32 at the end of the third quarter.

North Platte put the finishing touches on their wire-to-wire victory, as the lead drifted to 69-38 with 6:07 remaining. Inside the final six minutes, the Knights lead stretched to 42 on another Roberts three pointer, before the Rams closed out the game by connecting from downtown.

The Knights (8-20) will take on Central Community College in the opening round of Region IX postseason tournament on Wednesday, March 1. Tip is set for 6 p.m. in Columbus, Neb.