LEWISTON, Idaho – Lewis-Clark State College women’s basketball team member Kirsi Voshell entered Saturday’s game against Eastern Oregon University needing just six points to reach 1,000 points in her Warrior career. By the final buzzer, the 6-foot-3 senior had 22 points and a whole lot to smile about as the Warriors were able to stave off the Mountaineers 68-59.
The win lifts Lewis-Clark State, ranked No. 5 in NAIA Division I, to 9-1, while the loss brings Eastern Oregon, ranked No. 10 in NAIA D-II, to 9-2.
For Voshell, the game will stand as one of the best games of her career at LCSC. She hit 9-of-13 shots from the floor, gathered 13 rebounds, had three blocks, and three steals. Most importantly, Voshell made big plays when the Warriors needed them most.
Holding just a two point lead, 30-28, a minute into the second half, Lewis-Clark State struggled to shake loose a Mountaineer squad that always seemed to answer with a 3-pointer or steal to keep the game close. Thanks, in part, to 15 second half points by Voshell, the Warriors were able to create a little bit of distance and push to their largest lead of 49-37 at the 11:05 mark.
Up against a team with blistering speed, Lewis-Clark State had to rely on its post players to come up with big plays on both ends of the floor to keep Eastern from gaining any momentum.
Jasmine Stohr had 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists; Alyssa Fierro had a double-double of 11 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists; and Tasha Bishop was the fourth Warrior to score in double-digits as she had 10 points and three assists.
The Warriors finished with a 34-20 advantage in the paint, and a 47-32 lead in rebounds. LCSC also outshot Eastern Oregon 44 percent to 27.5 percent.
Two ways in which LCSC kept control of the game included a season-high eight blocks and a relentless offensive attack on the inside. With drive after drive, the shorter Mountaineer lineup was forced to foul, and the Warriors cashed in at the foul line.
LCSC made 20-of-24 attempts at the line for a season-high mark of 83.3 percent on the night.
Brooke Randall led the Mountaineers with 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the outside. Eastern went 8-for-25 from 3-point territory overall.
Eastern Oregon was able to cut the lead to 60-57 with 2:55 left in regulation, but a steal by Brittany Niebergall and back-to-back buckets on the inside by Voshell and Fierro helped LC stay in front for the win.
The Mountaineers had 13 steals and forced LCSC into 21 turnovers on the night.
Voshell stands as the second Warrior to reach the 1,000 career points milestone this season as Fierro accomplished the feat back on Nov. 20 against Pacific Union.
Lewis-Clark State’s next contest will come against Whitworth University in Spokane at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17.
