| OLYMPIA, Wash. – Sitara Byrd was the difference maker in No. 14 LC State Women’s Basketball’s eight victory of the season in a come-from-behind win over Evergreen State College (Wash.) on Saturday. The junior scored 12 points in the second half to lead the Warriors to a 55-46 win.
The Geoducks led for much of the game and capitalized on a strong game from 3-point range. The Warrior defense stepped up late in the to deny long-range shots and found Byrd offensively to turn things around.
“Finding ways to win on the road is very important and I am glad we found a way to win,” Head Coach Caelyn Orlandi said. “I thought we did a good job of finding Sitara when she had it rolling. Mataya (Green) was great on the boards and did a great job defensively for us. One of those games that we will learn from, get better from and look forward to the next one.”
LC State is now 8-0 on the season and 3-0 in Cascade Conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mataya Green put up the first four points of the game for LC State, both on assists from Darian Herring, to give the Warriors a 4-3 lead three minutes into the first quarter. Herring broke a low-scoring time just with a jumper before Ellie Sander made it back-to-back baskets for an 8-4 advantage by 3:57. A pair of 3-pointers by the Geoducks put TESC in front before the 11-point run had LC State trailing 15-8 with 30 seconds left in the frame.
Camden Barger beat the buzzer with a jumper to cut the difference to 15-10 after 10 minutes.
An and-1 play by Sander made it a two-point contest in the first 45 second of the second quarter, but the Geoducks maintained their slim lead as the frame continued. Byrd turned a steal into a layup and a basket by Payton Hymas had the Warriors within three, 21-18, with 3:23 to play. Herring found Hymas on a steal for back-to-back buckets by the junior, and a free throw by Green evened the score 21-21 at 1:38. Byrd matched an Evergreen bucket with one of her own to keep things tied 23-23 at the break.
Byrd put the Warriors back in front with a layup to start the third frame, but the battle was far from over. Evergreen surged to pull ahead by six, 31-25, midway through the quarter before baskets by Payton Hymas and Sander cut the deficit to two. The Geoducks matched their largest lead of the contest, seven points, at 1:49 before baskets by Byrd had the difference at four, 38-34, heading into the final 10 minutes.
Byrd was the catalyst in the fourth quarter and started the frame off with a basket. Barger hit the first 3-pointer of the contest for the Warriors at 6:26 and a foul shot by Herring brought LC State within one, 41-40, with 5:59 to play. Green gave the Warriors the lead at 4:34 before a free throw tied things up 42-42 at 3:27.
Byrd rattled off five straight points to put LC State in front for good in the final two minutes. Herring added a basket before another by Byrd capped the nine-point run for a 51-42 advantage with 34 seconds on the clock, and free throws by Herring sealed the 55-46 win.
STAT RECAP
Byrd led the Warrior women with 19 points, nine rebounds and five steals. She was 9-for-13 from the field with 12 of her points coming in the second half. Herring added 10 points with six boards, four assists, four blocks and four steals. Green, Sander and Hymas each tallied seven points with Green grabbing nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
The road trip continues next week when LC State travels to Walla Walla (Wash.) on Dec. 12 for a Cascade Conference matchup.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors. |
