Kilgore’s Brooklyn King (13) brings the ball up court against Chipola (Fla.) during Thursday’s NJCAA Women’s National Tournament in Casper, Wyo. (NJCAA)

Staff Reports

CASPER, Wyo. — Kilgore College’s first trip to the NJCAA National Tournament since the 1993 season ended here Thursday with a 73-63 loss to No. 1 seed Chipola (Florida) at the Ford Wyoming Center.

Kilgore ends the year at 24-10, while Chipola moves on with a 31-3 record.

The Lady Rangers trailed 26-14 after one quarter and 39-27 at the half, but battled back and cut the deficit to 52-45 heading into the final stanza to set up a frantic finish.

The Lady Rangers made it a 58-52 contest with 4:16 left when Rhyeli Hendrick split a pair of free throws.

Chipola answered with back-to-back hoops to go on top 62-52, but Hendrick scored again for the Lady Rangers to make it a 62-54 game.

Two free throws from Chipola’s Daniya McDonald with 2:56 left again gave KC a 10-point deficit (64-54) to overcome, but Lucy Henderson got into the scoring act with a layup at the 2:38 mark.

McDonald sank two free throws and later hit a layup to put Chipola on top 68-56, but Jarahle Daniels drilled back-to-back 3-pointers for the Lady Rangers to make it a 68-62 contest with 42 seconds remaining.

Madison Bob later collected an offensive rebound, drew a foul and split a pair of free throws with 29 seconds left to pull KC to within six (69-63), but Chipola put the game away at the free throw line when McDonald and Alindria Dudley both sank a pair of freebies in the final 28 seconds to make the final 73-63.

Daniels finished with 25 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in the loss for Kilgore. Nakiyah Allen had 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Kamari Forrest and Henderson six points apiece, Hendrick five points, Rhianna Battles four points, Bob three points and Anyla Herbert and Ja’Sani Green two points apiece.

Bob also had five rebounds.

McDonald finished with 14 points, Kanija Daniel 13, Ahmani Klabunde 11, Serena Heeren nine, Dudley eight, Aniyah Ruddock seven, Jailynn Brill four, Trinity Carmouche three and Mattea Henry two for Chipola.

Kilgore finished 4 of 18 from 3-point range and 13 for 20 from the free throw line.

Chipola hit three of 30 3-pointers and 28 of 41 free throws.

The Lady Rangers were making their seventh appearance in the national tournament.