NPCC
Trinidad, Colo. - Nariah Golden notched all her points in the second half, as the Knights erased a seven-point halftime deficit for a 63-59 win against Trinidad State on Friday night.
Nariah Golden’s 12 points came on 3-of-11 shooting from the field. Kateria Gooden added 12 points, while Nevaeh Golden rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.
“We battled through some adversity, but we found a way to win,” said head coach Jeff Thurman. “Now we must get prepared for a very good Lamar team tomorrow.”
Gooden opened the scoring, but the lead changed hands three more times throughout the opening ten minutes. The Trojans took a two-point lead on a free throw from Rachel Stewart, but three straight points from Nevaeh Golden tied the game up at 11-11 at the quarter break.
Neither team wanted to back down while exchanging blows in the second quarter. Trailing 23-21, Nevaeh Golden connected on two free throws to knot the game up, before a 7-0 run gave the Trojans a 30-23 lead at halftime.
Trinidad stretched their lead into double digits to begin the third quarter. North Platte did not back down and used a 14-5 run to even the game on a three by Madison Cheleen. Dezirae Gonzales put the Knights back out front by connecting on the front end of two free throws, before Candela Roy knotted the game up again.
Trinidad State managed to stretch their lead to six on a bucket by Violeta Rojas with 7:50 remaining in the fourth quarter. North Platte countered with a 14-4 run over the next 3:50 to regain control for the final time. Trojans managed to cut the deficit to 61-59, but a pair of free throws from Nariah Golden sealed the win for North Platte.
Knights (10-8) return to the hardwood on Saturday against Lamar Community College. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside the Wellness Center in Lamar, Colo.