CALDWELL, ID – The senior trio of Lindsey Wilson, Payton Hymas and Sitara Byrd helped the No. 10 Warrior Women’s Basketball team survive an overtime contest with (RV) College of Idaho on Saturday. Wilson grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and all three scored in double figures to help LC State outlast the Yotes 78-74.
LC State built a big lead in the first half and led by 10 at the break, but C of I exploded for a dominant 20-7 third quarter to turn the game on its head. The Warriors regained their footing and drained key free throws down the stretch.
Wilson led the defensive efforts with 11 boards to go with 11 points, while Hymas and Byrd were key on offense with 19 and 16 points, respectively.
“Overall great team win,” coach Caelyn Orlandi said. “We had different players step up at different times to make big time plays. Payton hit a timely 3, Sitara with a big and-1, Ella (Nelson) getting to the rack, and Madalyn (Green) being ready to go. Lindsey is always consistent in the paint and on the boards, proving it with her double-double tonight. Our energy was high, and we gutted out a tough win on the road.”
The victory has the LC State record at 7-3 overall and 1-1 in CCC play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Darian Herring and Byrd combined for a seven-point run to give LC State a 7-2 lead three minutes in, and Wilson and Hymas each scored to push the lead to 13-6 by 2:25 and that is where the score sat after 10 minutes. The Warriors held C of I to just two field goals in the first quarter and Wilson grabbed seven boards.
LC State opened the second frame with a deep 3-pointer by Kendall Wallace and baskets by Herring and Byrd combined for another run of seven points for a 23-9 advantage at 6:32. Hymas four points to match Yote baskets before a 3-pointer by Ellee Brockman made it 30-15 with 4:04 left in the half. C of I surged with timely triples, but free throws by Byrd and Madalyn Green and five points from Tatum Brager kept the lead at 10, 38-28, at the break.
The Yotes erased the LC State lead with a 20-2 run in the third quarter and held at 48-40 advantage at 2:49. Wilson and Camden Barger scored in the final two minutes to have the deficit at 48-45 with 10 minutes to play.
Wilson scored five points in the first minute to put the Warriors back in front 50-48. The lead continued to change hands as tallies by Ella Nelson and Barger helped LC State keep pace. Hymas and Herring scored to erase a 3-pointer by the Yotes before Hymas netted her own triple for a 61-56 advantage with 2:44 to play.
College of Idaho scored six straight points to regain the lead at 62-61 in the final minute, but a layup by Herring and free throw by Byrd had LC State in front 64-62 with seven seconds to play. A Warrior foul sent C of I to the line to tie the contest and forced overtime.
Wallace answered a basket by the Yotes to start the five-minute overtime period and a foul shot by Hymas put LC in front by one, and an and-1 by Hymas kept the margin at one points, 70-69, at 3:13. Byrd scored five for a 75-72 edge in the final minute and free throws by Hymas made it 77-74 with 10 seconds on the clock. Herring drained a free throw to end the contes with the Warriors in front 78-74.
STAT RECAP
Hymas led the Warriors offensively with 19 points and three assists. She was 6-for-12 from the field and 6-for-7 at the free throw line. Byrd added 16 points and six boards.
Wilson led the defensive efforts with a career-high 11 rebounds and notched her first double-double with 11 points. Herring blocked five shots and scored 11 points with seven boards.
The Warriors shot 41.2% from the field and held C of I to 34.9%. LC State had 27 points off the bench.
UP NEXT
The Warriors host NCAA Division III Whitman in an exhibition on Dec. 11 at 5:30 p.m.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
