LC women’s basketball team picks bad time to go cold, falls to APU

11-9-07 

AZUSA, Calif. – Going scoreless for a near six minute stretch at the end of the ball game hurt the Lewis-Clark State College women’s team as it fell to Azusa Pacific 64-57 in a nonleague contest of NAIA Top 25 teams on Friday night. 

After Sadie Short’s jumper cut APU’s lead to 55-54 with 6:07 left in a see-saw second half, the Warriors didn’t score again until Madison Mendezona buried a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left. During that stretch, LCSC was its own worst enemy by going 0-for-6 at the foul line and 0-for-5 from the field. LCSC, ranked No. 12 in the NAIA, also committed five turnovers during that stretch. 

APU, ranked No. 16 and playing its season opener, had its trouble as well. After going up 59-54 with 5:19 left, APU missed its next seven shots from the field. The Cougars did manage to hit 5-of-8 free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win. 

LCSC, now 2-1 on the season, committed 20 turnovers and went 10-of-18 at the foul line. The Warriors’ bench also was outscored 32-11 in the contest. 

Short led the Warriors with 11 points, while Breianna Gaines and Mandy Trout had 10 each. Trout also led the Warriors with eight rebounds, while Short, Vanessa West, and Jade Fulbright added six each. Fulbright also had nine points and six steals. 

Abby Johnson, who played at Clarkston High, recorded a double-double for the Cougars with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Guard Sarah Leathers led the Cougars with 14 points, while C.J. Hill added 13, and Kristie Hala’ufia scored 12. 

LCSC finished the game 22-of-53 from the field (41.5 percent), including 3-of-16 at the 3-point line (18.8 percent). The Warrior defense did force 23 turnovers and hold APU to 22-of-56 from the field (39.3 percent). 

The Warriors return to action Saturday night against Hope International University at 5 p.m. in Fullerton, Calif. Hope International, like Azusa Pacific, is a member of the Golden State Athletic Conference. 

LCSC and Azusa Pacific will meet again on Dec. 7 in Lewiston during the Wells Fargo Invitational.