Nov. 8, 2007

Final Stats

STERLING -- A 15-0 run to begin the game for the Plainswomen was good enough to complete a 79-68 victory in the team's home opener at the Bank of Colorado Event Center Tuesday night.

The triumph against Air Force Prep gives Northeastern an early 3-0 record heading into tournament play this weekend.

"I really like the way the girls are running up and down the court. They executed the offense pretty well," Plainswomen head coach Darrel Parker said. "We traveled with the ball a little bit more than I would like to see, but I think that is more pre-season gitters than anything. That comes with time, getting the girls used to playing at the speed of the game."

Northeastern got six straight points within the first two minutes of the game, forcing their opponent to call an early time out to regroup. The break in action didn't seem to help for Air Force, with sophomore Kristen Forbes nailing a three to make the score 9-0.

A three-pointer by sophomore Sarah Conner and one free throw by Forbes made the score 13-0. A steal that turned into a lay-up by Conner completed the run to start the game, ending at the 15:30 mark of the first half.

"The kids were really pumped up to get on the court, and they were really focused early on," Parker said. "In that stretch the girls played great defense that translated into easy shots on the offensive end."

NJC continued to pour it on but their opponent began to answer back. Forbes connected on another three to make the score 26-11 and freshman Silke Forstmann's lay-up on the following possession made the count 28-11 with 10 minutes to play.

From there, however, the team started to get a bit sloppy with the ball, turning the ball over on what seemed to be either traveling violations or just poor passing.

Air Force Prep went off on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to single-digits before a three-pointer by Forbes at the 6:51 mark ended the just over three minute drought. A three from Conner jumped the score to 34-20.

Back-to-back buckets by sophomore Jennifer Garner extended the lead to 16 points, but six free throws in the final four minutes of the half by their opponent made the score 44-34 at halftime.

"The referee called the game pretty tight for an opening game, but we just had to adjust to it," Parker said. "We made some turnovers, but it's still early in the year, it's not something I'm too worried about."

Forbes took a charge to begin second half play, which sparked her team to come out with a 7-1 with in the first four minutes of action. Air Force would again presume to make some runs, but the Plainswomen kept battling.

NJC would call a time out after their opponent cut the lead to 60-51 with 5:35 remaining on the game clock. Later on, with the lead at 11, Conner drained back-to-back three-pointers to make the score 73-58 with under two minutes to go.

Conner would go 4-4 from the free throw line in the final minute and freshman Jacqie Neill added two more to come away victorious.

"Air Force has got a good team and they kept battling," Parker said. "When they made some runs on us, we kept battling to come out with the win. It was a good way to get started at home and build confidence."

Northeastern shot 45 percent from the field in the win. Leading the way for the Plainswomen was Sarah Conner with 22 points, including four from behind the arc. Conner also had six assists and five rebounds.

Kristen Forbes had a great all-around effort for NJC finishing with a double-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds. The product from South Wales, Australia also added six assists and five steals before fouling out with 41.7 seconds to play.

Freshman Stacy Howard, along with Jennifer Garner, ended the contest with 10 points each.

The Plainswomen will remain home this weekend when they host a tournament with Western Wyoming and Lamar this Friday and Saturday.