LEWISTON – The 2023-24 LC State Women’s Basketball season came to a heartbreaking close on Saturday night at the hands of the University of Jamestown Jimmies (N.D.). Despite erasing a 10-point deficit at the half, the Warrior women fell just short by a final of 65-62.
The Warriors finished the season with a record of 26-6 under first-year head coach Caelyn Orlandi. The contest also marked the final games in the careers of Callie Stevens and Maddie Holm.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jamestown came out with a lot of energy, but the Warriors matched it through the first four minutes. Seven points from Sitara Byrd and a 3 by Ellie Sander had the Warriors in front 10-5 at 6:38. UJ evened the score 10-10 by 4:50 and the teams were tied again at 16-16 with two minutes to play in the first quarter. A 3 by UJ’s Samantha Paulsen had the Jimmies in front 19-16 after 10 minutes.
The Jimmies surged in the second quarter to take control of the contest. Layups by Darian Herring and Lindsey Wilson had LC within one and five straight Warrior points by Stevens kept things close, but UJ pushed ahead to lead 40-25 at 2:51. A free throw by Wilson sparked a run of five, fueled by baskets by Camden Barger and Wilson, to make it a 10-point game at the break with LC trailing 40-30.
The run continued in the second half with another eight LC State points. Wilson hit a layup, Sander made two foul shots, Mataya Green scored with a jump shot and Byrd hit a 3 to cut the deficit to one, 40-39, by 6:39. A basket by Stevens and free throw by Green kept the difference at one midway through.
Stevens stayed hot with another 3 before back-to-back buckets by Herring, both on assists from Stevens, tied things up 49-49 with 10 minutes to play.
The Warriors took the lead in the fourth quarter and pushed the score to 56-51 after a triple by Byrd. A layup by Green had the advantage at four points with 7:11 to play, but Jamestown gained momentum as the time wound down. Back-to-back 3s by UJ’s Kia Tower and Kate Cordes have Jamestown the lead for good. The last LC State basket was a jumper by Stevens.
Byrd led the Warriors with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double to go with three steals. Stevens scored 14 with six assists.
LC State outrebounded UJ 40-36 and forced 17 turnovers. Though the Warriors made more field goals (25-23), the Jimmies drained 12 3-pointers.
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