LEWISTON, Idaho – Using a 13-4 run to end the first half and a 14-2 run to open the second half, the Lewis-Clark State College women’s basketball team finished nonconference play with a 74-46 win over Whitman College at the LCSC Activity Center on Sunday afternoon. 

The Warriors, ranked No. 16 in the NAIA, improved to 11-3 with the win, while Whitman, an NCAA Division III school from Walla Walla, Wash., fell to 6-3. 

Both teams showed signs of a long layoff at times. LCSC, which hadn’t played since an exhibition loss to Idaho State on Dec. 14, looked sharp at times, but also gave up 11 offensive rebounds. Whitman, which was playing for the first time since Dec. 8, committed 27 turnovers in the game and had trouble against the Warriors’ pressure defense. 

“I thought at times we executed well offensively and at times, turned the ball over,” LCSC coach Brian Orr said. “We were inconsistent at times and we need to do a better job of blocking out on the defensive end.” 

LCSC opened the game with the first seven points and never trailed in the contest, although Whitman shaved the margin to four twice, the last at 24-20 with 5:16 remaining in the first half. LCSC then proceeded to go on a 13-4 run for a 37-24 lead at halftime. 

In the second half, the Warriors forced some turnovers early and converted on fast-break opportunities during a 14-2 run that put L-C ahead 51-26. Whitman never got closer than 23 the rest of the way, while LCSC’s biggest lead was 30. 

The Warriors featured a balanced attack with nine of their 11 players scoring at least five points. Senior center Mandy Troutt (shown above) finished with 14, including 10 in the second half after sitting out most of the first half with two fouls. Breianna Gaines added 11 points, Vanessa West 10, and Sadie Short scored nine. Both Troutt and Short came to LCSC from Walla Walla Community College. 

Short led LCSC in rebounding with seven, while Vanessa West had six. 

Madison Mendezona finished with seven points and a game-high six assists, while Katie Hart had five steals and Jade Fulbright added three steals. As a team, LCSC finished with 18 steals. Fulbright now has 287 steals in her career, seven behind Brianne Kottwitz, who stands third on the program’s all-time steals list. 

For the game, LCSC shot 26-of-52 from the field for an even 50 percent. The Warriors also were 9-of-23 from the 3-point line with four players connecting on two 3-pointers apiece. 

Whitman was 17-of-50 from the field for 34 percent and 4-of-16 from the 3-point line. 

Orr said LCSC’s defense played the key role in the win by keeping Whitman out of sync. 

Hillary White led the Missionaries with 12 points, while Michelle Krall added 11. The two, however, were just 7-of-23 from the field and committed 13 turnovers. 

LCSC begins defense of its Frontier Conference title on Saturday when it plays Westminster in Salt Lake City, Utah.