LEWISTON, ID – No. 12 LC State Women’s Basketball closed out the regular season with an emphatic 84-54 victory over Bushnell (Ore.) on Saturday. The Warriors celebrated their five seniors prior to the contest, and Lindsey Wilson and Payton Hymas celebrated the night with career-highs in scoring.
LC State honored Wilson, Camden Barger, Sitara Byrd, Ella Nelson and Hymas before the game. The class has been one of the most impactful to ever come through the program.
“A great win for our seniors tonight,” coach Caelyn Orlandi said. “Those five seniors have made such a tremendous impact on Warrior Women’s Basketball. Their leadership, hard work and dedication have been so wonderful. Coaching those five for four years has been an absolute blessing and they have made an everlasting impact on this program that goes far beyond wins and losses. They have worn their Warrior jerseys perfectly and I am so proud of them.”
Hymas led the game with 22 points and Wilson added 18 with a 7-for-7 performance from the field. The Warriors grabbed 42 rebounds and had 15 steals.
“A huge congratulations to Lindsey and Payton on their career highs tonight,” Orlandi added. “What a special moment for them to remember for the rest of their lives. Lindsey was remarkable in the post up and Payton cut so well off the ball. A great game for both of them.”
LC State finished the regular season with a 21-6 record overall and 15-5 in CCC play. The Warriors clinched the No. 3 seed in the CCC postseason tournament and will face sixth-seeded (RV) Southern Oregon on Thursday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Hymas, Kendall Wallace and Darian Herring had LC State out to a 6-1 lead early before Hymas and Byrd combined for a six-point run for a 12-3 advantage by 6:19. Herring completed a three-point play to close out the scoring for the Warriors in the first quarter for a 19-11 lead.
Bushnell cut the difference to three points to start the second frame, but baskets by Barger, Wilson and Byrd had the margin back at double digits, 27-16, by 2:20. Wilson and Ellee Brockman scored before a 3-pointer by Wallace had the advantage at 34-23 at the half.
Wilson and Wallace opened the third frame with a run of five and five straight points by Wilson made it 44-27 at 6:52. LC State’s offense kept its pressure on the Beacons with a 58-43 lead with 10 minutes to play.
Tatum Brager and Brockman each knocked down a 3-pointer in the first minutes of the fourth quarter. Herring sparked a 13-0 run that resulted in a 78-47 cushion with 3:36 to play en route to the victory.
STAT RECAP
Hymas led the contest with her career-high 22 points. She tallied a pair of 3-pointers, three assists and two steals. Wilson went 7-for-7 from the floor for her 18 points to go with six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
Herring added 15 points and seven rebounds, Wallace tallied 10 points and Byrd led the game with nine rebounds and five steals.
LC State shot 54% as a team and commanded the boards with 42 rebounds.
“After the game, Kendall Wallace said the team had great energy tonight and I thought so too,” Orlandi said. “Playing back-to-back is tough and I thought we responded well to yesterday’s game and came out ready to play tonight. Our postseason is here and I look forward to taking the challenge on with this team. This group is really special and I look forward to what they can accomplish.”
Ayden Krupke led the Beacons with 15 points.
