PRATT, Kansas -- The Northern Oklahoma College Lady Mavericks used a 28 point 4th quarter to rally past Pratt, Kansas 66-63 Wednesday night.

  Wednesday's game was season opener for both teams.

  "We came out really tight," said Lady Mavs coach Greg Krause.  "That's to be expected in the first game of the season.  Fortunately, we played through that and were more relaxed as the game went along."

  NOC trailed 29-22 at half and 43-38 after three quarter before scoring 28 points in the final period.

  "We made some shots late," Krause said.  "We made six 3-pointers in the second half which was instrumental in our comeback."

  Krause added the Lady Mavs changed defense to a trap early in the second half and that helped create some energy.

  "We got after them a little bit and that really got our energy level up," he said.

  "I told our players after the game that we showed some mental toughness," Krause added.  "You  have to have that to come from behind on the road."

  Hannah Nealis led the Lady Mavs with 19 points while Tahanee Bennell had 13 and Sabela Reigosa added 11.  The Lady Mavs won the rebounding battle 51-43.  Bennell led the team with nine boards.

  NOC 66, Pratt 63

             1     2    3     4—Total

NOC  12   10   16  28--  66

Pratt  13    16   14  20--  63

  NOC—H. Nealis 19, T. Bennell 13, S. Reigosa 11, R. Hissam 9, K. Hodgins 7, V. Reynolds 7.

  Pratt—Catlin 21, Muldrow 10, Tullis 7, Lewis 7, Alarcon-Diaz 6, Miller 4, Smith 4, Anderson 3, Prater 1.