by LEWISTON, Idaho – The Lewis-Clark State College women’s basketball team had seven players score in double figures with two players recording a double-double in route to a 110-26 win over Walla Walla University at the LCSC Activity Center on Saturday night.
The Warriors scored 100-plus points for the third time this season and 32nd time in program history to improve to 7-0 on the season while sending the Wolves, who were playing short-handed, to 0-5.
“Our defense, I thought, set the tone tonight,” said Warriors Head Coach Brian Orr. “We extended the perimeter and our girls played really well. On the other end of the floor, we shared the ball well all night and found the open player. We did all of the things you need to do to be successful.”
Natahnee Spencer (Nez Perce Tribe) netted 14 points and dished out 11 assists while Hailey Turner (FR/Richland, Wash.) scored 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for a more conventional double-double. Kaylea Knox (JR/Rainier, Ore.) led the team with 17 points while Brittany Tackett (SO/Coeur d’Alene, Idaho) (14), Brooke Litalien (JR/Post Falls, Idaho) (12),Jossilyn Blackman (FR/Brush Prairie, Wash.) (12) and Caelyn Orlandi (JR/Coeur d’Alene, Idaho) (10) also netted double-digit points.
“That’s one of our focuses,” said Orr on Spencer’s 11 assists. “We want to share the ball and be a passing team as opposed to a dribbling team. Tonight we shared the ball about as good as any team I’ve had. It’s contagious, once one player starts to be unselfish and make the pass others follow suit.”
The Warriors opened the game on a 10-0 run to set the tone for the contest with Tackett scoring eight of the 10 points while Orlandi added the other. LCSC was 14-for-21 from the field, including 4-for-10 from the three-point arc, with 11 assists and 11 steals aiding in the 32-6 first quarter margin.
The stifling defense continued into the second quarter as Lewis-Clark State limited WWU to just four made field goals in the first half. The Warriors offense had no trouble with the Wolves as LCSC shot 70.7 percent (29-for-41) from the field in the opening 20 minutes including an 8-for-18 (44.4%) mark from downtown.
LCSC forced 23 turnovers with 19 steals and had 20 assists all in the first half for a 66-8 lead. The defense continued to play well in the third, allowing just four points while the offense slowed down, attempting just 14 shots, but still increasing the lead to 87-12.
Walla Walla put up 14 points in the final 10 minutes, but the Warriors scored 23, the final points coming from Blackman for the final margin, 110-26.
The Warriors finished the contest 48-for-73 (65.8%) from the floor and 10-for-20 from three while grabbing 32 rebounds, 30 steals and dishing out 30 assists. LC outscored the Wolves 70-12 in the paint.
“Everything is coming together for us,” said Orr. “I have a really mature and versatile team. We’ve really started to progress our defense and the girls have taken well to it. We have several players that can play multiple positions and it allows us to do some different things on both ends of the floor. This week will be a good test for us. We’ve been looking forward to it and will have a chance to test ourselves against some good competition.”
The Warriors will have a small break before returning to action in San Antonio, Texas as they face NCAA Division II, St. Mary’s on Tuesday, Nov. 24 before taking on NAIA No. 7, Our Lady of the Lake on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Both games are slated to tip-off at 4 p.m. PST.
