SIOUX CITY, IA – Darian Herring picked the perfect time to score a career-high 21 points, and Payton Hymas matched it, to help No. 25 LC State defeat Columbia College (Mo.) in the first round of the NAIA tournament by a final of 75-59. The sixth-seeded Warrior women will take on third-seeded Briar Cliff (Iowa) on Saturday at 2 p.m. PT.
“An extremely fun win for our team today,” coach Caelyn Orlandi said. “The energy was fantastic; the togetherness was top of the line and the encouragement for each other was so fun. I thought our defensive intensity was great and to force 19 turnovers at the national tournament is pretty special. I want to congratulate Columbia on a great year. They have excellent players and Mallory Shetley is an extremely talented player.”
Herring tallied a career-best 21 points with 10 field goals made, including the first 3-pointer of her career. She blocked five shots, had three assists and grabbed two steals.
“Darian Herring was incredible tonight, and her winning mentality showed on both ends of the floor,” Orlandi said. “She attacked the basket with extreme confidence and is now officially 100 percent from the 3-point line. I was so incredibly proud of her.”
Hymas tied her career-high total with 21 points and snagged four steals.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Herring scored the first two baskets of the contest and Ellie Sander added one of her own to give LC State a 6-5 edge in the first three minutes. Herring and Hymas hit back-to-back 3-pointers to grow the advantage to 12-7 before free throws by Sander and a basket by Sitara Byrd made it 16-7 five minutes in.
Herring and Mataya Green scored back-to-back baskets to grow the lead to 10 points by 2:56. The Warriors led 22-12 at the end of the first frame.
Sander, Lindsey Wilson and Hymas fought their way to the basket in a low-scoring first part of the second quarter. Another bucket by Hymas had the LC State lead at 30-23 at 4:40. Herring, Sander and Green combined for a run of seven points to grow the advantage to 39-25 at 2:11.
Herring and Hymas scored once more, and the Warriors led 43-29 at the break.
Hymas scored the first two baskets of the second half, but a run by Columbia had the Cougars within eight points, 47-39, at 5:09. A layup by Green pushed the margin back to 10, and another two buckets by the senior had the lead at 53-43 with 2:27 left in the quarter.
A triple by Byrd and basket by Herring grew the advantage to 13 points, 60-47, in the final minute of the third.
Hymas netted a 3 and Tatum Brager completed an and-1 play for a 66-52 lead by 8:12 in the fourth quarter. Herring blocked a pair of shots to keep a scoreless span going until Sander and Hymas scored back-to-back baskets. LC State led 70-54 with 5:06 to play.
The Warriors continued to lead by double-digits to close out the contest.
STAT RECAP
Herring and Hymas each scored 21 points and combined to go 3-for-3 from 3-point range. Herring blocked five shots and Hymas grabbed four steals.
Sander added 11 points with four steals and four assists to go with her team-high six rebounds. Green added 10 points with 5-for-7 shooting from the floor.
“Payton Hymas was excellent at controlling tempo and had great drives to the basket,” Orlandi added. “Both of our seniors are playing great basketball right now and I love their desire to win and leave it all on the court. A great team win and to have four in double-digits at the national tournament is incredible.”
LC State shot 50.8% from the floor and forced 19 turnovers for 20 points.