Warriors top McKendree 69-49 to advance to second round

3-19-08

JACKSON, Tenn. – The Lewis-Clark State College women’s basketball team jumped out to a 10-point lead within the first six minutes of the game and never looked back as it toppled McKendree University 69-49 on Wednesday night in the opening round of the NAIA Division I National Basketball Tournament

The Warriors played aggressive and effective defense, controlled the inside, and shot well enough from the outside to keep the McKendree Bearcats playing catch-up. LCSC finished the game with 23 forced turnovers and outrebounded McKendree 47 -34.  

Jade Fulbright made Warrior history midway through the first half when she recorded her 347th career steal. This put her ahead of the 346 all-time mark Amanda Campbell set in 1999. Fulbright also holds LCSC’s single season record of 107 steals (05-06), and with 102 steals so far this season she is only six away of breaking her own record.  

Lewis-Clark State College improves to 28-4 overall, and earns its third straight trip to the NAIA’s Sweet 16. McKendree, which was looking for its first win in eight NAIA tournament appearances, finishes the season with a 24-9 record. 

LCSC moves on to face Lindsey Wilson, which upset Oklahoma Baptist University 78-74 earlier in the day. The upset stands as Lindsey Wilson’s first NAIA tournament win in program history. The matchup between Lewis-Clark State and Lindsey Wilson is Friday at 7:45 p.m. 

The Warriors, who now hold a 13-game winning streak, forced 15 turnovers and held the Bearcats scoreless for more than nine minutes in the first half. With a shot at the buzzer by Katie Hart, the Warriors saw their lead grow to 34-15 by halftime. In the first half, McKendree shot 23 percent from the field, while LCSC hit 36 percent from the field including a 3-for-8 mark from 3-point territory.  

McKendree, out of Lebanon, Ill., rallied in the second half to narrow L-C’s lead to seven with just over eight minutes left. However, key offensive efforts by Fulbright and Mandy Troutt kept the Warriors on top. 

Troutt led the Warriors with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Fulbright ended the game with 18 points and three steals. Lacie Titmus added 10 points and six rebounds, Sadie Short had eight points and six rebounds, and Vanessa West finished with three points and nine rebounds. Hart kept the offense in motion as she collected eight assists.  

Nine of LCSC’s 10 players scored at least one point and 9 of 10 also had at least one rebound.

McKendree, which was riding a 13-game winning streak, was led by Katie Fullerton’s 11 points. Heather Elders also threw in six points and nine rebounds. 

Out of the eight first-round games play on Wednesday, only one saw a larger margin of victory than Lewis-Clark State’s 20-point win over McKendree, and the 50 points scored were the fewest among the 16 teams. 

Frontier Conference rival Carroll College also had a successful first round as it narrowly overcame Westmont College 61-59 earlier in the day. Westminster College is scheduled to play its first round game versus Loyola University on Thursday at 12:30 pm.