10/25/2024 | Alisha Alexander | Assistant Athletic Director-Sports Information
MOSCOW, Idaho – It was Sitara Byrd’s turn to shine in exhibition play on Friday night against the NCAA Division I Idaho Vandals. Though Idaho defeated LC State 79-49, the junior had a standout night with a game-high 23 points.
The contest also featured Clarkston’s Wallace sisters, with senior Ashlyn playing for Idaho and freshman Kendall with the Warriors.
“Sitara was remarkable tonight,” Head Coach Caelyn Orlandi said. “She is a fierce competitor and leaves everything she has on the court. To score 23 points is a special night, but to know that those baskets were hard earned against a Division I opponent makes it even more special. Kendall Wallace was able to compete against her sister tonight and to be able to see them on the same floor for one last night was a very special experience they will have forever.”
The contest was the final tune up for the No. 24 Warrior women ahead of the season opener on Nov. 2 in the P1FCU Activity Center.
“We are thankful for the experiences the two exhibitions have given us, but we are more than excited to be competing against NAIA teams in the coming weeks,” Orlandi added. “I’m proud of the willingness to compete every possession no matter who we are playing and we were able to learn some things about ourselves in the process. Every day, every practice and every game we strive to be better, and I look forward to what comes next.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Byrd started the scoring for LC State with a 3-pointer 40 seconds into the contest to give the Warriors a 3-2 lead early in the quarter. Payton Hymas added a basketball at 7:59, but Idaho grew its lead to 11-5 by 7:18. Byrd and Ellie Sander each added baskets to keep the Warriors within five, 16-11, four minutes in. A 3 by Sander was the final basket for LC State in first quarter and Idaho led 24-14 after 10 minutes.
Darian Herring struck first in the second frame with a layup and Hymas added two free throws, but Idaho extended its lead to 32-18 by the 6:36 mark. Foul shots by Byrd, Mataya Green and Tatum Brager carried the Warriors to halftime where the Vandals led 43-23.
Sander scored twice in the first two minutes of the third quarter and Byrd added seven points in a 90 second span. She accounted for 14 straight LC State points in the quarter before Lindsey Wilson added foul shots in the final 16 seconds. A block by Wilson kept the difference at 60-43 with 10 minutes to play.
Idaho grew the margin to 70-43 through the first four minutes of the final frame before Camden Barger hit a 3 to cut the run. Herring hit a free throw before a Kendall Wallace drained a jumper in the final 90 seconds.
STAT RECAP
Byrd led all scorers with 23 points. She was 9-for-12 from the field, 2-for-2 from 3-point range and 3-for-3 from the free throw line. The junior led LC State with eight boards and was one of four players with two steals. Sander added nine points and both Herring and Grace Beardin grabbed five rebounds.
A full box score will not be available for the contest.
UP NEXT
The Warrior women open the 2024-25 season officially on Nov. 2 when LC State hosts Haskell Indian Nations University as part of Tribal Nations Weekend, presented by the Clearwater River Casino & Lodge. Tipoff for the women is slated for 2 p.m. with the men to follow. A full schedule for the weekend can be found on lcwarriors.com.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
