NCCC has season end at Districts

Niagara County Community College had its 2020-21 Covid-19-shortened and condensed season come to a close with a 69-62 loss to Lackawanna College in the NJCAA Div. II East B District Championship on Saturday afternoon at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, New Jersey.

The Thunderwolves, winners of three consecutive Region III Div. II titles, finish their season with an overall record of 8-5. Lackawanna (12-4), meanwhile, advances to next week's NJCAA Div. II Tournament in Hickory, North Carolina. 

Freshman Aichata Ballo led NCCC with 13 points, while fellow first-year backcourt player Kiya Marquez added 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Sophomore Taylor Lockwood chipped in 11 points, freshman Gabrielle McDuffie had a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards and classmate Ashley Tucker pulled down 14 rebounds in the setback.

The Thunderwolves shot a season-worst 27 percent from the field and turned it over 22 times as they squandered a 10-point halftime lead.

Nya Morris scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Falcons.