NPC women rebuffed by Buffaloes

Submitted photo RUNNING POINT: National Park College sophomore point guard Bailey Womack (25) looks for a wide option Monday during the Nighthawks' 70-65 home loss to Arkansas Baptist College. Photo by Aaron Brewer, courtesy of National Park College.
Submitted photo RUNNING POINT: National Park College sophomore point guard Bailey Womack (25) looks for a wide option Monday during the Nighthawks' 70-65 home loss to Arkansas Baptist College. Photo by Aaron Brewer, courtesy of National Park College.

National Park College's women's basketball team suffered two close defeats to National Junior College Athletic Association Region 2 opponents this week.

The Nighthawks (3-7) lost on the road, 75-66, at North Arkansas College (13-4) in Harrison on Saturday. National Park College and the Nighthawks both compete in Division II.

Division I Arkansas Baptist College handed the Nighthawks a 70-65 defeat on Monday on campus at The Kettle inside the NPC Wellness Center. The Nighthawks trailed by eight points in the first quarter, but they tied the game at 9-all to start the second quarter.

A 24-point outburst in the second quarter fueled National Park College to a 33-24 halftime lead. Sophomore point guard Bailey Womack, of Fountain Lake, led the team with eight points.

Arkansas Baptist (5-14) took control in the third quarter, outscoring the hosts, 25-8, to take a 49-41 lead into the fourth quarter. Sophomore Kayla Sims, of Fountain Lake, and freshman Logan Keener, of Lake Hamilton, led the team to another 24-point quarter in the fourth, but the Nighthawks were unable to make up the deficit.

Womack led the team in scoring with 17 points. Sims and Keener each added 13 points, while sophomores Faith Bratton, of Jessieville, and Hailee, of Mountain Pine, added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The loss to North Arkansas was the third of the season for National Park College. The Pioneers previously beat the Nighthawks, 92-70, in their home Pioneer Classic in Harrison. The teams also met in the Lady Greyhound Classic in West Memphis, where North Arkansas won, 67-54.

The single-digit defeat was the best result of the season for the Nighthawks against the Pioneers. The visitors took an 18-12 lead in the first quarter behind six points from Bratton. Three crucial 3-pointers helped the Pioneers take a 34-33 halftime lead after a buzzer-beating layup.

The deficit remained one point by the start of the fourth quarter. Womack scored eight points in the frame, but the Nighthawks were unable to earn the road victory against the Pioneers, who are ranked No. 7 in the country in NJCAA Division II.

Freshman forward Tori Hayes scored a season-high 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for North Arkansas. Hayes scored 25 points in back-to-back games, including an 82-81 overtime win in Harrison against Crowder (6-11).

Freshman guard Leah Shellnut added 20 points and five assists. She also scored a career-high 25 points against Crowder.

Womack had 17 points on Saturday. Crosby added 16 points.

National Park College announced its homecoming schedule this week. The team's games with Champion Christian College scheduled for Feb. 18 have been cancelled.

The Nighthawks will host the Pioneers for homecoming on Feb. 2. The women's game will tip at noon with the men's game to follow at 2 p.m.

A shooting contest will be held at halftime of the womens' game, while alumni will be recognized at halftime of the men's game. A complimentary lunch will be served at 11 a.m. in the atrium of the Frederick M. Dierks Center for Nursing and Health Sciences.

The National Park College women's team will play host to fellow Region 2 member Southern Arkansas University Tech on Thursday at 5 p.m.

Sports on 01/16/2019

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