Story by NPCC Athletic Communication
North Platte, Neb. - The North Platte women’s basketball team used a strong second half surge to secure the 68-57 victory over Southeast Community College on Wednesday night.
Aliyah Herron led the Knights with a double-double, finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Dezirae Gonzales added 11 points, while Zaily Mazarin was dominant on the boards, pulling down 12 rebounds.
“Proud of our grit and toughness tonight against a well-coached Southeast team,” head coach Jeff Thurman said. “We found a way to win, and we did it on the defensive end.”
The contest was tightly contested early, with Southeast holding an 8-6 edge midway through the first quarter. A putback by Mazarin with 3:59 remaining sparked a 7-0 run to close the period, giving North Platte a five-point advantage.
The second quarter remained an even battle. Southeast tied the game at 21-21, and neither team was willing to give ground. Mazarin scored late to knot the game at 27-27 heading into halftime.
Southeast came out strong in the third quarter, opening on a 7-2 run to regain the lead. The Knights found their rhythm, while going on an 11-0 run to take an eight-point lead into the final period.
North Platte continued to build momentum in the fourth quarter, extending the lead to eleven points with two minutes remaining. Southeast attempted a late push, but the Knights stayed composed down the stretch to secure the win.
“We made the necessary plays on the offensive end in the fourth quarter,” Thurman said. “Now we need to move on and get prepared against a very good Lamar team.”
North Platte (5-13) returns to Region 9 play on Saturday against Lamar Community College. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Lamar, Colo.