LEWISTON, ID – Caelyn Orlandi is headed to the final site of the NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship for the eighth time as a Warrior, but for the first time leading her alma mater as the head coach. Fourth-seeded No. 17 LC State Women’s Basketball punched its ticket to Sioux City, Iowa, with a 79-67 victory over fifth-seeded No. 15 Montana Tech behind a masterful double-double from Sitara Byrd.
“I am just so proud of this team,” Orlandi said. “The grit and determination they showed tonight was so spectacular. We made winning play after winning play, and answered every run Tech came with. Congratulations to Tech on a spectacular season. Coach Jeff (Graham) has done a great job with his team and they had a tremendous season.”
The defensive combo of Byrd and Darian Herring were a key piece for the Warriors. After a career-high 15 rebounds on Friday, Byrd grabbed 17 on Saturday to go with her 26 points, and Herring tied the single-game record with eight blocks in the contest. Payton Hymas added 20 points for her second big scoring game in a row, and Kendall Wallace added 17 as both guards hit three 3-pointers.
“I simply have a ‘wow’ on Sitara Byrd’s performance,” Orlandi said. “Absolutely incredible. Payton was so good and made big shots and those two players were not going to let us lose today. Kendall Wallace was tremendous with her ball pressure, and she made big baskets in the second half. Grace Beardin came in and defended and rebounded so efficiently. She will battle for her teammates until she has nothing left to give.”
The Warriors will take on No. 3 Bethel (Tenn.) on Friday in the NAIA Round of 16. Tipoff in Sioux City is set for 9 a.m. PT in the Tyson Events Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Hymas got the offense going with a 3-pointer on the first possession of the game, and baskets by Byrd and Herring pushed the lead to 9-4 by 6:41. After a layup by Herring, Wallace scored five straight points and Byrd and Hymas capped the scoring run at 10 points for a 21-8 advantage. Montana Tech answered with their own 10-point swing to cut the difference to 21-18 after 10 minutes.
The Orediggers carried their momentum into the second frame and pulled in front 22-21, but Hymas and Byrd combined for an eight-point run to give the Warriors the lead for good at 5:06. Wallace knocked down a triple and Madalyn Green converted a free throw to end the half with LC State ahead 35-30.
Montana Tech chipped away at the lead in the second half and had the margin at two points, 41-39, by 6:02. LC State fought its way to the free throw line four times in the final five minutes of the quarter and converted on all eight foul shots for a 55-51 edge with 10 minutes to play.
Grace Beardin, Byrd and Hymas each netted a triple in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to grow the advantage to 66-55 as the Warriors found their groove. The final 11 points in the contest for LC State were free throws by Byrd, Herring, Beardin and Hymas.
STAT RECAP
Byrd was spectacular with 26 points and a career-best 17 rebounds. She made 10 free throws to lead the contest. Hymas added 20 points with three steals and was 7-for-8 from the foul line, and Wallace tallied 17 points.
Herring was huge on defense with 12 rebounds and a single-game record eight blocked shots. She led the team with six assists and scored seven points to fill up the stat sheet.
“Every player didn’t get in tonight, but they are all so important to what we do here,” Orlandi added. “They contribute in every aspect of what we do and we win together. I’m so proud of this team, how they play the game, who they are, and what they stand for. Warrior Basketball is special because of players like them.”
UP NEXT
The Warriors face the Duer Quadrant’s top-seeded team in Bethel (Tenn.) on Friday at 9 a.m. PT. LC State last faced Bethel in the 2017 national tournament and earned a 69-58 victory behind 29 points from Orlandi. The Warrior coach competed at the NAIA final site four times as a player, was there three times as an assistant coach and will make her first appearance as a head coach next week.
Games in Sioux City will be live streamed on the Urban Edge Network. A full preview will be available next week.
