Rookstool puts up 33; Cards come up short

WILLISTON, N.D. — The Cardinals were limited to 26 second-half points in a loss to the Titons. 

"We were just down four points at halftime, but crumbled defensively in the second half," NIC coach Nathan Covill said. "Williston came out and shot the ball really well." 

Kylani Rookstool, a sophomore, had 33 points for NIC (1-3). 

"If it wasn't for Kylani, we would have been in a lot of trouble," Covill said. "We were playing good enough to stay in it, but right now, we're not playing good enough defense to win a lot of games. We've got to have some kids step up, and that's on me as a coach to get us prepared for that." 

NIC hosts Casper (Wyo.) in its home opener on Thursday at 5 p.m. 

Williston State is 4-2. 

NORTH IDAHO 

Chloe Collin 2-7 2-2 6, Kylani Rookstool 11-17 8-9 33, Emmalee Secrest 1-6 0-0 3, Iratxe Amorrortu 0-2 1-2 1, Summer Faleafa 0-5 0-0 0, Larkin Christiansen 1-2 0-0 2, Ripeka Edwards 1-8 0-0 2, Molly Axell 1-5 0-0 3, Tayler Adams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-52 11-13 56.  

WILLISTON STATE 

Kylie Simpson 1-6 2-2 4, Allison Kunze 4-6 5-11 13, Allie Garcia 3-7 0-0 8, Jersey Berg 8-15, 2-2 19, Dzestrifa Rieksta 2-3 6-7 10, Lucia Bellido 2-7 1-2 5, Taylah Murtaugh 4-9 3-4 13, Hannah Briskey 1-1 0-0 2, Patience Grey 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-55 19-28 74. 

3-point goals — NIC 5-27 (Collin 0-5, Rookstool 3-5, Secrest 1-5, Amorrortu 0-1, Faleafa 0-3, Edwards 0-4, Axell 1-4), WSC 5-16 (Simpson 0-2, Garcia 2-5, Berg 1-3, Bellido 0-1, Murtaugh 2-5). Rebounds — NIC 25 (Rookstool 7), WSC 40 (Kunze 10). Assists — NIC 3 (Falaefa 2), WSC 15 (Murtaugh 4). Team fouls — NIC 19, WSC 17. Fouled out — Amorrortu. 

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