From the Lewiston Tribune, published March 3, 2007

 3-3-07

BUTTE, Mont. -- The Warriors have reached the 30-win plateau, and one more victory will give them a championship trophy.

Terri Wittmer came off the bench for 14 points as Lewis-Clark State beat Westminster College 74-68 on Friday night in the semifinals of the Frontier Conference women's basketball tournament.

The Warriors play for the title at 4 p.m. PST today against Carroll College, which drubbed Rocky Mountain 81-50 in the semis.

Lewis-Clark State coach Brian Orr was told by a fellow coach that the Warriors (30-1) were the first NAIA team in the country to reach 30 wins. Without knowing if that's accurate, he knows it's satisfying.

"I know our players are excited to have reached that number," he said. "There haven't been a lot of them that were easy."

This one wasn't especially easy either. The Warriors led 32-25 before committing a series of turnovers and falling behind 36-34 by halftime.

Wittmer, a senior backup guard, provided a spark in the second half, turning two steals into breakaway layins.

"She drove to the basket, got to the foul line," Orr said. "This was definitely her best game of the season. The M.O. to our team is that somebody steps up big, and tonight it was Terri Wittmer."

Ashley Baker overcame double- and triple-teaming to record 12 points and 10 rebounds for L-C, despite being held to seven floor attempts. Jade Fulbright added 12 points and Janeen Nelson contributed 11 points and three 3-pointers.

Elisa Leader scored 20 points for Westminster, of Salt Lake City, and Janae Hirschi added 18 points and 12 rebounds.

The chief drawbacks for L-C were Westminster's 14 offensive rebounds and the Warriors' 16 turnovers.

"Most of it was a lack of concentration in taking care of the basketball," Orr said of the miscues. "Our second-half execution was a lot better. We had a hard time getting a defensive rebound, but we executed on offense."

Warriors point guard Katie Hart scored eight points, and her teammates adjusted to Westminster's efforts to deny her the ball.

In the title matchup, the Warriors will seek their third win of the season over Carroll of Helena, Mont.

"It's always hard to beat a really good team three times," Orr said. "I'm really looking forward to the challenge."

The champion receives an automatic berth into the NAIA tournament, and the Warriors' record assures them a spot even if they lose.

They have pulled within striking distance of their school record for wins, set in 2000-01 when the team finished 33-4.

WESTMINSTER (21-11)

Eckman 1-0 0-2 3, Evans 3-9 1-2 8, Haberle 1-5 0-0 3, Hirschi 9-19 0-0 18, Leader 6-12 6-7 20, Dodge 0-2 0-0 0, Haslam 4-5 0-0 10, Hoskins 2-3 2-3 6, Remund 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 27-64 9-14 68.

LEWIS-CLARK STATE (30-1)

Baker 4-7 4-9 12, Fulbright 4-7 2-4 12, Hart 3-6 2-3 8, Nelson 4-10 0-0 11, Yancheva 1-5 2-2 4, Mendezona 0-1 0-0 0, Preston 1-1 0-0 3, Troutt 2-6 2-2 6, West 1-2 2-2 4, Wittmer 4-6 5-8 14. Totals 24-51 19-30 74.

Halftime -- Westminster 36-34. 3-point goals -- Westminster 5-19 (Eckman 1-4, Evans 1-5, Haberle 1-3, Leader 2-6, Dodge 0-1), Lewis-Clark State 7-16 (Fulbright 2-3, Nelson 3-8, Yancheva 0-1, Preston 1-1, Wittmer 1-3). Fouled out -- none. Rebounds -- Westminster 36 (Hirschi 12), Lewis-Clark State 37 (Baker 10). Assists -- Westminster 12 (Evans 3, Remund 3), Lewis-Clark State 11 (Hart 4). Total fouls -- Westminster 23, Lewis-Clark State 16.