Knights open Emerson Classic with win over Tigers

Marshalltown, Iowa – North Platte Community College women's basketball team opened the Emerson Classic against Marshalltown Community College on Friday evening. The tenacity of the Knights defense controlled the game in the fourth quarter to close out the Tigers, 75-55.

"It was a great team win," said head coach Jeff Thurman. "We withstood their run and fought through some adversity, but we showed that we will continue to fight for all forty minutes."  

Knights jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the opening two minutes as Diamond Moore-Heath got her offensive putback to fall, while Tahmeya King connected on one-of-two free throw opportunities. Marshalltown answered with a layup in transition to cut the deficit to one with 8:08 to play in the opening quarter.

Knights went back to work on the offensive end and extended their lead to six on a free throw line jumper by Moore-Heath, 8-2. Tigers trimmed the deficit down to three, but the Knights kept Marshalltown from sustaining the momentum needed to charge ahead and hung on to a five-point lead at the end of the opening quarter, 16-11.

Tigers went on a 5-0 run to start the second quarter to tie the game up, 16-16. A baseline drive and jumper by Madison Heinzen gave the Knights the lead back with 8:56 to play before halftime. The basket started an 8-1 run by the Knights, as their lead extended to nine on a jumper by Jordyn Moon.

Over the next two minutes, the Tigers responded with a 7-1 run to narrow the deficit down to three with 1:22 to play in the second quarter. A long-range jumper from Janay Brauer halted the run and pushed the lead back out to five. Knights and Tigers traded baskets over the final minute as the quarter closed with North Platte holding on to a five-point advantage, 31-26.

In the third quarter, the North Platte lead grew back to eight as Kayla Pope connected on a shot from the perimeter. Marshalltown narrowed the deficit to four over the next three minutes after a short 4-0 run. Isa Valenzuela responded for the Knights by capitalizing on her two free throw attempts, after a steal in transition turned into an opportunity at the foul line, 36-30.

The North Platte offense hit a dry spell over the next 2:30 as the Tigers went on a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the game, 36-39. North Platte hit the reset button after the timeout and closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to recapture the lead, 43-39.

The run continued into the fourth quarter, as a Moon three pointer ignited a 12-2 run to extend the Knights lead to seventeen, 58-41. Tigers attempted one last run over the closing minutes, but the Knights answered with some timely offensive possessions to earn their fifth win of the season.

Moore-Heath finished the game with a season high 23 points and 14 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Moon earned her second double-double of the season totaling 13 points and 15 rebounds in thirty-four minutes of action.

Knights (5-1) will finish their weekend road trip with the second day of the Emerson Classic against Iowa Lakes Community College. Tip is set for 11am inside the Marshalltown Community College Student Activity Center.