TIPTON - Sophomore guard Asya Nichols buried seven 3-pointers in delivering a game-high 27 points as the No. 3 seed Lady Wildcats demolished the No. 6 Lady Tigers in first-round play at the Tipton Tournament late Monday night.
New Bloomfield (2-1) jumped out to a 15-5 lead after one quarter and carried a 33-15 advantage into halftime. The Lady Wildcats then outscored Smithton 16-7 in the third quarter to widen their lead to 49-22.
Sophomore forward Ellie Emerson and sophomore guard Jenna Nichols added nine points apiece for New Bloomfield.
"Our full-court pressure defense was the difference in the game," Lady Wildcats head coach Brett Craighead said. "We were able to create lots of turnovers, which led to some easy baskets early in the game.
"This relaxed us and allowed us to just go play."
New Bloomfield clashes with No. 2 seed Russellville - a fellow Show-Me Conference member - in the semifinals at 6 tonight. The Lady Indians advanced with a 54-20 dismantling of No. 7 seed Jamestown in Monday night's first round.