LEWISTON, Idaho – A very balanced attack pushed the Lewis-Clark State College women’s basketball team to a victory over Montana Western in front of a season-high crowd of 1,149 on Saturday evening. The Warriors topped the Bulldogs 77-62, and are now 7-2 in the Frontier Conference and 21-3 overall.
The Warriors did a good job of spreading the ball around and finding the open shot as Kirsi Voshell, Brittaney Niebergall, and Jasmine Stohr turned in 14 points apiece. Alyssa Fierro wasn’t far behind with 13 points, and each Warrior to enter the game had at least four points or more.
For LCSC, ranked No. 8 in the latest NAIA poll, the win comes with a feeling of revenge tied to it as the Bulldogs were able to upset the Warriors on the road 73-53 to begin conference play. Montana Western is now at 2-7 in league play and 12-10 overall.
With a 44.1 percent to 26.1 percent lead in shooting in the first half, LCSC cruised to a 38-17 lead by the break. In the second half the lead was increased to a high of 22 and cut to a low of 13.
Western’s offense got rolling in the second half, however, LCSC’s offense never hit a lull and was able to keep one step ahead throughout the game.
Though they did finish with a small lead in shooting percentage (39.7 percent to 36.5 percent), the Warriors biggest asset came on the defensive end. LCSC forced 22 turnovers which led to a 20-7 lead in points off of turnovers.
The Warriors also had a 40-22 advantage in points in the paint thanks mostly to the inside attack of Voshell, Fierro, and Stohr, and fast break buckets by Niebergall. Niebergall had three steals on the night.
The Bulldogs would have liked to get more going on the inside, however, three blocks from Voshell, two from Fierro, and one from McKenzie Heaslet made attacking from the paint a much less attractive option.
LCSC finished with 16 assists in the game with Niebergall and Stohr leading with four apiece.
Hayley Pettit topped Montana Western with a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds. She also had three blocks.
The Warriors hit the road next week to face Carroll College on Thursday followed by Rocky Mountain on Saturday.
