First-half runs help LCSC women beat Great Falls 87-50

2-10-07

Using runs of 14 and 12 straight points during stretches of the first half, the Lewis-Clark State College women’s basketball team moved a step closer to capturing the Frontier Conference title with a convincing 87-50 win over the University of Great Falls at the LCSC Activity Center on Saturday night. 

The Warriors, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, were never threatened as they rolled to their 16th straight victory of the season to improve to 10-0 in conference play at 24-1 overall. Great Falls, which suffered its 12th straight loss, is at the other end of the conference standings at 0-11 and is 2-22 overall. 

LCSC took the Argonauts out of the game early as Janeen Nelson hit consecutive 3-pointers and added a steal and lay-in to spark a 12-0 run and put the Warriors up by double digits early.  The Warriors led 29-15 when Katya Yancheva and Jade Fulbright scored six points apiece during a 14-0 run to end the half and put LCSC in front 43-15 at intermission. 
(Janeen Nelson hits one of her 3 consecutive
3-pointers)

The second half was more of the same as LCSC outscored Great Falls 44-35 to roll to the victory. 

LCSC had seven players score eight or more points and four finished in double figures. Despite UFG trying to take away the Warriors’ inside game, LCSC senior post Ashley Baker had 16 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting from the field. Nelson also finished with 16, including 4 3-pointers, while freshman guard Madison Mendezona added a career-high 11 points, and Vanessa West had 10. 

The Warriors attempted a season-high 34 3-point shots in the game and made 12. For the game, LCSC was 34-of-73 from the field, 46.6 percent, but was 26-of-49 inside the arc. 

Yancheva led the Warriors with eight rebounds, while Baker and West had seven each to help LCSC hold a 43-39 rebounding edge. Katie Hart added six assts and three steals, while Nelson had four assists and three steals. 

Great Falls, which made only 4-of-23 shots in the first half, finished the game 14-of-54 from the field for 25.9 percent. The team actually shot better from the 3-point arc (7-of-24) than it did from inside the arc (7-of-30).  Great Falls also committed 21 turnovers. 

Laura Keaster led three Argonauts in double figures with a game-high 17 points. Cali Buck and Lesly Richter added 10 each. Jacqui Millam had seven rebounds. 

LCSC can earn no worse than a tie for the conference title with a road sweep this weekend. On Friday, the Warriors take on Montana Tech in Butte, and then meet Montana-Western on Saturday in Dillon.