HELENA, MT – Shooting struggles in the second quarter were the difference maker on Friday in No. 10 LC State’s loss to No. 16 Carroll (Mont.) at the Carroll College Thanksgiving Classic. The Warriors nearly pulled off a thrilling comeback in the fourth quarter but were edged by the Fighting Saints by a final of 65-62.
Darian Herring put together an impressive game on both sides of the ball with 15 points, five blocks, five rebounds and three assists.
The loss has the Warrior record at 5-2 ahead of the final non-conference game of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Herring, Payton Hymas and Grace Beardin combined for the first 10 LC State points of the contest for a 10-5 advantage through six minutes. Baskets by Sitara Byrd and Lindsey Wilson had the lead at 14-8 before a triple by Kendall Wallace made it 17-10 at 1:57. Herring added a three-point play to give the Warriors a 20-12 lead after the first quarter.
Carroll opened the second frame on a 6-0 stretch before a layup by Herring cut the run at 6:20, but the Saints rallied again to take a 23-22 lead at 5:17. Camden Barger and Byrd kept the difference within one, but Carroll led 30-26 at the break.
The Fighting Saints came out of halftime with the momentum on a pair of 3-pointers as tallies by Byrd and Herring kept LC State within striking distance. Ellee Brockman, Brager and Wallace each hit a 3 to cut the margin 42-40 and each added on as the Warriors trailed 47-46 with 10 minutes to play.
Carroll regained its footing in the fourth quarter with an eight-point rally before Herring ended the run. Wallace made it a seven-point stretch with five consecutive points to bring LC State within two, 55-53, with 6:15 to play. Brockman turned a steal by Byrd into a basket, but the Saints answered with a 3-pointer to push the difference to five, 60-55, at 4:34. A triple by Hymas and free throw by Herring built momentum for LC State, and Hymas took a steal back to the basket for a 61-60 edge for the Warriors at 3:17.
A 3-pointer in the final two minutes led to a five-point run for Carroll to put the Saints back in front 65-61. The hosting Saints hung on for the win over LC State.
STAT RECAP
Herring led the Warriors with 15 points on a 6-for-11 night from the field. She led the team with five rebounds, five blocks and three assists. Wallace added 12 points with three 3-pointers while Hymas and Barger each scored eight points with four steals. Barger was 3-for-3 from the field and Brockman added seven points (3-for-5).
LC State shots 43.1% as a team whereas Carroll shot 47.2%. The Saints outrebounded the Warriors 41-25.
UP NEXT
The Warriors conclude non-conference play on Saturday against No. 15 Rocky Mountain (Mont.) at the Carroll College Thanksgiving Classic. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. PT.
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