Hometown fans got their first look at newcomer transfer Rachel Noyce and it is easy to see why coach Andrea Joyce is so high on the senior forward from Utah.
Noyce led all scorers with 19 points as the Lady Broncs (2-1) secured their second straight win in a home opener Saturday against the Teton Lady Timberwolves (8-3).
The 43-35 win wasn’t all about Noyce, who added 11 rebounds for a double-double, as Jackson spread the love around judiciously between Audrey Fouras (8 pts), Gracie Hardeman (7pts, 6 reb), Karsen Breeding (6 pts, 7 reb), and Jacie Chatham (3 pts, 6 reb).
The Lady Broncs took an early lead behind Fouras’ hot start. On consecutive trips up court, the shooting wing hit on 2- and 3-point jumpers from distance to energize the gym right from the start.
Joyce’s slow-the-tempo style of play was just the ticket as Jackson held Teton to a season-low 35 points while feeding their bigs down low in the post. Hardeman made two crucial buckets under duress, and the Lady T-Wolves had no answer for Breeding’s size. The 6-foot center did not make any baskets from the floor but was a perfect 6 for 6 from the free throw line as Teton’s only defense was to foul her.
And when the game became nervously too back-and-forth with lead changes, Noyce took it over. After a slow start, Rachel poured it on when it counted to lead the girls to victory down the stretch.
