LEWISTON, Idaho – With a win over Montana Tech on Thursday night, the Lewis-Clark State College women’s basketball team has now won 20 or more games in 20 consecutive seasons. The Warriors, aided by 20 points from Jasmine Stohr, reached the milestone on Thursday by storming past the Orediggers 79-61.
The last time the Warriors failed to reach 20 wins was in the 1991-1992 season when the team went 16-10. The program has gone an incredible 499-142 over the 20 year span.
Stohr, who injured her MCL during a game on Jan. 12 and was originally expected to miss at least six weeks, surprised many Warrior fans when her name was listed on LCSC’s starting lineup on Thursday. The 6-foot guard from Yakima, Wash., wore a knee brace throughout the game, but seemed to have little trouble returning to her high-scoring ways.
With 11 points from Stohr and 10 points from Kirsi Voshell in the first half the Warriors jumped to a commanding lead of 36-21 by the break. The team hit 53.3 percent of its shots in the first half, and continued its shooting touch throughout the second.
Overall, LCSC outshot Montana Tech 50.9 percent to 40.6 percent on the night. The high shooting mark, coupled with a 43-28 advantage in boards, made any possibility of an Oredigger comeback very unlikely.
The closest the Orediggers came in the second half was within 15 points, and the furthest away they fell was by 29 points with around five minutes left in regulation.
Five Warriors finished with double-digits in points. Voshell had 15 points and six blocks, Brittaney Niebergall had 13 points and six assists, Alyssa Fierro had a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Tasha Bishop had 11 points and eight rebounds.
LCSC went 7-of-12 from 3-point territory for a season-high percentage of 58.3. Niebergall was 3-for-3 from the outside, Bishop was 3-for-5, and Stohr went 1-for-1.
Tech was led by 16 points from Laini Kalumbi and 15 points by Tabitha Tomlinson. Bryn Hasquet finished with 13 points, and Mandy Machinal had 11.
Stohr, who ended up missing just four games because of the injury, played 25 minutes in the game which is right around what she averaged prior to the injury. She is averaging 20 points per game, which is fifth best in the NAIA.
The No. 8-ranked Warriors are now 20-3 overall and 6-2 in league play. Tech slips to 8-12 and 3-5.
Saturday is billed as Dollar Day at the Activity Center as the Warriors take on Montana Western at 5:30 p.m. The game will feature $1 admission, and $1 hot dogs, soft drinks, and popcorn.
