LEWISTON, Idaho – No. 7 LC State Women's Basketball made a mark on the record book on Saturday with a 113-61 victory over Park-Gilbert (Ariz.) in the P1FCU Activity Center. The 113 points is tied for fourth-most in a single game by LC State, and the 16 3-pointers is also tied for fourth in the Warrior record book. LC shot 62.2% from the field which ranks third.
Kendall Wallace led LC State with a career-high 21 points on a 5-for-8 performance from 3-point range. Sitara Byrd wrapped up her weekend with 17 points and Payton Hymas added seven assists.
Byrd was named the MVP of the non-conference tournament and Lindsey Wilson was also named to the all-tournament team.
"Absolute fantastic energy from our team tonight," coach Caelyn Orlandi said. "Playing in those games is an extremely fun environment for our team. Our bench energy was wonderful, and our offense tonight was special. The game plan today was to move the basketball against their zone to start the game, and we executed wonderfully. When they switched to man, we were able to get paint touches and find our shooters. I love to see 27 assists on a stat sheet and I love to have confidence going into our tough road trips in November."
The victory has the Warriors off to a 4-0 start on the young season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A basket by Darian Herring and 3-pointer by Byrd had LC State out to a 5-0 lead after the first minute. After a short back-and-forth, a triple by Tatum Brager started a 16-point run that featured 3-pointers from Wallace, Byrd and Grace Beardin for a 25-8 advantage. Wallace and Beardin each added another 3 in the final minute for a 33-11 lead after 10 minutes.
The 33 points in first frame was just short of the program record for points in a quarter which stands at 35 set in 2016.
Wallace and Wilson combined for seven straight points to keep the momentum with LC State in the second frame. Brager and Hymas tallied consecutive baskets for a 45-18 advantage at 5:04, and a triple by Ellee Brockman made it 48-21 at 3:26. Herring and Ella Nelson added baskets for a 54-30 advantage at the half.
The Warriors maintained control in the third quarter as Byrd, Herring, Wilson and Wallace combined for a nine-point run to push the margin to 30, 74-44, at 1:32. LC State led 77-46 with 10 minutes to play.
Camden Barger and Wallace netted back-to-back 3-pointers for an 89-49 lead at 6:52 in the final frame. Madalyn Green scored the first point of her collegiate career, and a triple by Nelson and layup by Hymas pushed the Warriors to the century mark, 100-53, with 3:46 to play. Brockman accounted for eight of LC State's final 10 points, including a 3-pointer, in the 113-61 contest.
STAT RECAP
Wallace had a career night with 21 points off the bench. She was 8-for-14 from the field and 5-for-8 from 3-point range. She finished the night with four steals.
"Kendall Wallace had a career high in points tonight, but what she did defensively was even better for me," Orlandi said. "She got flicks and scrambled all across the court tonight."
Byrd added 17 points with three 3-pointers and five rebounds, and Wilson added 14 points on a 6-for-7 night from the field.
"Lindsey Wilson had an exceptional weekend, and I am so proud of how she is playing in her senior season," Orlandi added. "She is going to be huge for us down the stretch."
Herring totaled 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds, and Brockman had 11 points with a perfect 4-for-4 night. Hymas has 10 points, seven assists and six steals.
"Ellee Brockman played really well tonight, and we can always count on her for some rebounds," Orlandi said. "I could talk about every player that played tonight, but I am proud of our efforts, proud of the way we play well together, and I love when we shoot the ball like that."
LC State finished the night with 16 3-pointers and had 27 assists on 46 baskets. The Warriors shot an impressive 62.6% from the field and 53.3% from 3-point range. The field goal percentage ranks third in a single game.
UP NEXT
LC State is in Rio Grande, Ohio, later this month for the Bevo Francis Classic. The Warriors will take on No. 23 Shawnee State (Ohio) on Nov. 21 and (RV) Rio Grande (Ohio) on Nov. 22.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.