KIRKLAND, WA – No. 12 Warrior Women’s Basketball turned in a dominant performance on Saturday with a 98-37 victory over Northwest (Wash.). Darian Herring climbed LC State’s all-time block ranks with five on the night to move into a tie for second with 204.
“A big congratulations to Darian on her new career milestone. I know there will be plenty more in her future,” coach Caelyn Orlandi said. “A great weekend of team wins. I thought our defense was really great this weekend and trending in the right direction.”
The Warriors hit 13 3-pointers while the defense forced 29 turnovers and held NU to 26.3% from the floor. Five LC State players scored in double-digits led by Payton Hymas and Tatum Brager with 18 each.
The victory improves the LC State record to 20-6 on the season and 14-4 in Cascade Conference play. Two games remain in the regular season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles opened the game on an 8-2 run before tallies by Lindsey Wilson and Hymas evened the contest 8-8 at 6:49. Sitara Byrd, Herring, Kendall Wallace and Hymas added to the 23-point swing to put the Warriors in front 25-8 after 10 minutes.
Byrd drained a 3-pointer for the first LC State points of the second frame and Brager added a pair of triples to make it a 37-14 advantage. Wallace and Hymas each added a 3-pointer before Byrd scored five straight points to cap a 14-point run for a 48-14 lead with 90 seconds left in the half. LC State led 48-16 at the break.
Wallace answered a 3-pointer by Northwest with one of her own to spark an eight-point run that also featured baskets from Wilson. The lead sat at 56-19 after two minutes of the third quarter. A long-range shot by Byrd led off an 18-0 stretch that moved the advantage to 74-21 at 4:17, and a 10-0 rally had the score at 84-23 with 10 minutes to play.
Grace Beardin, Madalyn Green and Ellee Brockman combined for six points to open the final frame and Bella Firnkoess and Keira O’Neill closed out the scoring for the Warriors.
STAT RECAP
Hymas and Brager tied for the game high with 18 points each. Hymas was 7-for-8 at the free throw line and Brager knocked down six 3-pointers. Byrd added 16 points with a 3-for-4 night from 3-point range and four steals, and Wallace scored 13 with three 3s and six rebounds.
Herring ended her night with 12 rebounds, 10 points, seven assists and five blocks. She now has 204 blocks in her career which is tied with Alyssa Fierro for second-most all-time.
LC State shot 51.4% from the field and drained 13 3-pointers and 43.3%. The Warriors forced 29 turnovers for 42 points.
