Ladies improve in second round of conference matches

     The North Iowa Lady Bison are already finding more success in the second half of the Top of Iowa Conference schedule, as they defeated Garner-Hayfield/Ventura in a rematch last Tuesday, Jan 12 at Garner.

     After a two-point loss against GHV in their first conference match of the season, the Lady Bison defeated the Cardinals by two points last week, 45-43. Mica Johnson led all scorers with 15 points, followed by Rachel Hassebroek with 10 points for North Iowa. Krista Schutter led in rebounds with 11.

     Lady Bison Head Coach Matt Harriman said it was a great win. “Hard fought throughout the whole game,” said Harriman. “I’m very proud of my girls. Everyone that played contributed, and we made the right plays down the stretch. Kendall Melz made a big-three pointer to give us a lead late.”

     The Lady Bison hosted North Union for their last match of the week last Friday, Jan. 15, as they came up short in a 65-53 loss but cut 10 points off their deficit compared to their first match against the Warriors this season.

     Johnson and Hassebroek led the Lady Bison in scoring with 12 points each. Kendall Melz had eight rebounds, and Rachel Schutter made four steals.

     Coach Harriman says they played a real physical ball game. “My kids played hard against a really good team tonight, and we stuck with them all the way till the end,” said Harriman. “It was a five point game with two minutes left, and every night we want to give ourselves a chance at the end to get a win, but credit North Union for making a few more plays down the stretch.”