NMMI Sports Press

The NMMI Lady Colt basketball team spoiled Gateway Christian’s season opener by overcoming a 10 point deficit to defeat the Lady Warriors 43-41.

NMMI started off the game sluggish as Gateway stormed out to a 10-4 lead thanks to back to back three-pointers by Megyn Balok. Gateway would take a 14-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. Balok finished with 18 points and 3 assists. Head coach Marisha Olesinski said, “We started off a little sluggish, but turned it around and after that everyone played very well.”

The struggles would continue in the second half as Demitra Ulibarri scored the lone basket for the Lady Colts. Gateway finished the quarter with nine points and that totaled the score to 23-13 heading into halftime.

It was very evident that Olesinski was not happy with her team’s performance the in the first half. Olesinski said, “I told the girls that we can come back, we just needed to stop making so many turnovers,” and that is exactly what happened in the second half.

NMMI came out fast in the third quarter as Abigail Valadez scored back to back layups to cut the lead to 23-17, but the momentum did not last long as Gateway finished the third quarter on an 8-3 run.

Heading into the fourth quarter, NMMI was down six points and starting point guard Tianna Tsosie fouled out in the third quarter. Instead of folding and giving the game to Gateway, NMMI rattled off 2 turnovers in a row to get the Warriors out of sync and tied up the game at 37-37. NMMI went on 5-0 run and then a turnover allowed Gateway to tie the game at 41-41 with thirty seconds left.

After a shot hit the iron, Ulibarri grabbed the rebound and made the shot with less than five seconds remaining. Gateway did not get a shot off an NMMI won the game 43-41.

Ulibarri led NMMI offensively with 16 points and Valadez added 13 of her own.

NMMI will take on Lake Arthur Monday at the Godfrey Athletic Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 PM.