In a low-scoring contest, the Northmor Lady Knights survived a third quarter comeback by East Knox (EK) (2-3, 1-1) to take a 36-24 win, improving their record (3-2, 2-1).
Northmor opened with a strong first quarter, outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 11-4. Lady Knight senior Riley Johnson led the scoring in the opening frame with five points on a deuce and a trey. Northmor’s defense proved difficult for East Knox to solve, with Bulldog players entering the key only twice in the quarter and surrendering multiple turnovers on passes.
East Knox recovered in the second, as each team scored seven points. Northmor finished the half with an 18-11 lead. Junior Madison Simpson led the scoring for Northmor in the quarter, making a 3-pointer. East Knox’s leading scorer at the half was sophomore Sydney Opfer, who scored five points.
East Knox limited Northmor to six points at the beginning of the third quarter, while EK sophomore Ella Divan scored all 10 of the Bulldogs’ points in the quarter. Her 10 points came on three 2-pointers and four free throws. East Knox nearly closed the gap, cutting Northmor’s lead to 24-21.
Northmor recovered in the latter half of the quarter, scoring seven while shutting out the EK offense, finishing the quarter with a 31-21 lead. Senior Emilee Jordan paced the Knights in the third with six points.
After a combined 23 points in the third, Northmor scored only five and East Knox, three in the final frame, as visiting Northmor took home the 12-point victory. EK’s Divan was the game’s leading scorer with 14 points on five 2-pointers and four free throws. Johnson led the scoring for Northmor, producing 13 points and connecting on a 3-pointer.
East Knox Head Coach Mandy Todd summed up the lack of scoring.
“[It’s] just one of those games where we couldn’t get anything going. Shots weren’t falling and turnovers killed us. I am proud of the fight in the girls,” Todd said.
