LEWISTON, Idaho – With nine blocks and defensive pressure that closed just about every open look its opponent could manufacture, the Lewis-Clark State College women’s basketball team avenged an overtime loss to Montana State University-Northern earlier this season by thumping the Skylights 75-42 on Thursday night. The Warriors forced Northern to shoot only 23.2 percent from the field.
Unlike the matchup on Jan. 10 when senior Stacie Barker ruled the inside with 27 points, 21 rebounds, and eight blocked shots to lead Northern to a 93-89 win, on Thursday the Warriors, from one end of the court to the other and from the opening minutes to the final horn, controlled the paint.
Freshman Alyssa Fierro set the tone for the game as she swatted Northern’s first shot attempt—which, somewhat ironically, came from the hands of the 6-foot-3 Barker who had blocked so many Warrior shots in the previous meeting.
By the end of the first half the Warriors had eight blocks, had outscored the Skylights 18-6 in the paint, and had held Barker to only two points.
Behind 11 first half points from freshman Jasmine Stohr, the Warriors led 34-19 at the break.
In the second half, the Warriors continued to attack the basket on offense, and on defense continued to force Northern to take tough shots. LCSC won the scoring in the paint contest 14-6 in the second half as Fierro pounded the ball inside to scored 10 points in the second half.
On offense, the Warriors passed the ball well and finished just one assist short of tying the season high of 20. The Warriors also were on the better side of the 14-11 turnover ratio which resulted in 10 LCSC points off of turnovers and only two for Northern.
Stohr, who has now averaged 21.3 points in her last four games, finished with the game-high of 17 points. Stohr shot 3-for-4 from 3-point territory and also had four assists, three steals, and two blocks.
Fierro and Kenna Reiter were the only other Warriors to score in double-digits as Fierro had 16 points, five rebounds, and four blocks, while Reiter finished with 12 points, five assists, and two blocks.
Helping the Warriors outrebound Northern 42-35 was senior Sadie Short and freshman Kirsi Voshell. Short finished with 12 rebounds to go with her eight points and four assists, and Voshell added a career-high 10 rebounds
In what was truly a team effort, every Warrior made at least one shot from the field. Nikki DePeel also added five assists, and freshman Tasha Bishop went 2-for-2 from behind the 3-point line to score a productive 6 points in her nine minutes on the floor.
Sam Schrmele was the only Skylight to score in double-digits as she led her team with 13 points. Barker, who was in foul trouble throughout the second half, finished with six points, but she did have a game-high 14 rebounds, and four blocks.
On the night, LCSC shot 48.3 percent (28-of-58) from the field and 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from the 3-point line.
The win improves Lewis-Clark State to 5-3 in league and puts them a game behind MSU-Northern (now 6-2 in league) for second place. Overall the Warriors are now 15-6, while the Skylights, currently ranked No. 25 in the nation, are 14-9.
LCSC returns to action on Saturday when it faces Great Falls University inside the LCSC Activity Center. Tipoff is at 6 p.m.
