LEWISTON – Six Warriors scored in double-figures for the second straight night on Saturday to help No. 6 LC State increase its winning streak to 14 games. The Warrior Women’s Basketball team celebrated Senior Night, honoring Callie Stevens and Maddie Holm, with an 89-70 victory over Warner Pacific.
The senior duo will leave LC State as two of the best to put on a Warrior uniform. Stevens led the contest in scoring tonight with 19 points. Freshman Grace Beardin had the best game of her career with 15 points.
“On senior night, we have to talk about our two seniors,” Head Coach Caelyn Orlandi said. “Callie Stevens and Maddie Holm have given so much to this program and have competed with a fierce intensity for the past four seasons. These two are excellent on the court, but even better people off of it. They have impacted so many lives and have done so in such a positive way. They are a prime example of what it means to be a Warrior and I am so incredibly proud and honored to have been a part of their lives the past four years. Once a Warrior, always a Warrior.”
The win improved the LC State record to 23-2 overall and 19-1 in Cascade Conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Warner Pacific scored first, but it was all LC State from there. The Warriors put on a show with a 31-4 first quarter where WPU only scored in the first and last minute of the frame. Stevens led the way with eight points in the 10 minutes, Grace Beardin scored six with a pair of 3s and Ellie Sander and Sitara Byrd each tallied five points.
The Knights found their footing in the second quarter with three quick baskets to cut the LC lead to 36-10 by 7:28. The two teams traded baskets throughout the frame before the Warriors went to the locker room with a 55-17 advantage. A 3-pointer and free throw by Tatum Brager gave LC its largest lead at 39 points in the final seconds of the frame.
WPU opened the second half with a 19-2 run to cut the margin to 21 points, 57-36, at 5:46. A layup by Stevens sparked a nine-point rally by the Warriors to push the lead back to 30 by 2:52. LC led 68-44 with 10 minutes to play.
The fourth quarter was back-and-forth until Darian Herring, Beardin and Ella Nelson hit three straight baskets to keep the momentum with the Warriors. Another run by WPU had the Knights within 17, but tallies by Beardin, Lindsey Wilson and Byrd put the game away.
Stevens led all scorers with 19 points to go with five rebounds. Beardin had the biggest game of her career with 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the floor. Sander added 11 and Byrd, Brager and Nelson each scored 10. Byrd led the defense with nine rebounds, Camden Barger, Herring and Stevens each had five assists, Byrd and Herring each had four steals and Herring blocked three shots.
“Our bench production was fantastic tonight and Grace Beardin played the best game of her career today,” Orlandi said. “She came in the game and knocked down two 3s right away and was a confident shooter all game long. She played tough defense and came in the game to make an immediate positive impact.”
LC State shot 45.8% from the floor and had 24 assists on 33 made baskets. The Warriors had 40 points off the bench and scored 30 points off 21 turnovers.
“Offensively, having balanced scoring is so huge at this point in the season and we have been sharing the ball so well,” Orlandi added. “Having six players in double-digits is a special thing and I love that we can have a new player step up at any given time.”
UP NEXT
The Warriors are on the road to wrap up the regular season. Big matchups against No. 25 Oregon Tech and No. 22 Southern Oregon will determine seeding in the Cascade Conference postseason tournament.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
