The National Park College Nighthawk women’s basketball team couldn’t escape a late
run from Crowder College Wednesday, falling to the Roughriders on sophomore night,
71-60.
Before the game, National Park College honored its five sophomores—Laney Wallace
(Malvern), Kayla Sims (Fountain Lake), Hailee Crosby (Mountain Pine), Bailey Womack
(Fountain Lake) and Faith Bratton (Jessieville)—for their groundbreaking work with
growing the Nighthawks team.
Fueled by a 12-point first quarter from Bratton, the Nighthawks capitalized on Crowder
College turnovers early, building a double-digit lead and holding the visiting team
to just two field goals in the game’s first 10 minutes. In the second quarter, however,
the tides turned, and the Roughriders surged for five three-pointers to regain the
lead. With a couple of big three-pointers from Sims, the Nighthawks sent the game
into halftime, tied at 36.
In the second half, both teams traded blows, with Crosby pacing the Nighthawks with
two three-pointers. In the final frame, however, the Nighthawks ran out of gas and
were outscored, 19-11, to fall to their sixth-consecutive loss.
Bratton led the Nighthawks in scoring with 25 points, with Crosby adding 14 points
in the loss.
In men’s action, National Park College remained undefeated against its non-conference
schedule, defeating Hendrix College, 109-75.
Led by nine- and eight-point efforts from sophomore KJ Corder (Hot Springs) and freshman
David Jagers (Mayflower) early in the first half, The Nighthawks (13-4) quickly went to the bench, allowing
its talented depth to shine for the second-consecutive game.
Leading, 49-39 at halftime, the Nighthawks turned in a stellar defensive performance
in the game’s final 20 minutes, paced by a 10-point effort from freshman DJ Martin
(Pine Bluff) and nine-point performances from freshman Dayten Wishon (Gravette) and
sophomore Braylon Steen (Bryant). The Nighthawks out-rebounded the Warriors, 42-15,
en route to the team’s second-straight win.
Wishon led the Nighthawks in scoring with 15 points. Steen and Martin scored 12 points
apiece, while Corder, Jagers and freshmen Garrison Branscum (Perryville) and Patrick
Greene (Little Rock Mills) added 11 points each in the win.
The Nighthawk men travel to Walnut Ridge Friday for a 7 p.m. tipoff against Williams
Baptist University. XZero Sports will stream the game live at www.xzerosports.com. The Nighthawk women return to action Feb. 16 on the road at Rhema Bible Training
College in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
For more information on schedules, rosters and more, visit www.np.edu/basketball. Visit NJCAA Division II team stats for up-to-date NJCAA statistics on the Nighthawks. Fans can also follow
the Nighthawks all season on social media.
Facebook: Nighthawk Athletics
Twitter: @NPC_Nighthawks
Instagram: nighthawkathletics
Snapchat: npnighthawks
