LEWISTON, ID – The No. 7 LC State Women’s Basketball team improved to 2-0 to start the season after a second straight victory over Dickinson State (N.D.) on Saturday. Every Warrior scored in the contest and five tallied double digits for the second night in a row.
Payton Hymas and Darian Herring put together big performances for LC State. Hymas led the game with 18 points and seven assists, while Herring grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds. Grace Beardin excelled from 3-point range with a career-best three triples.
“Playing teams back-to-back is extremely tough and I thought our team responded well to the runs Dickinson State had,” head coach Caelyn Orlandi said. “Payton Hymas and Grace Beardin answered their run in the fourth and showed great leadership. Payton had a fantastic weekend, and I thought she did a great job of getting her teammates involved and scoring when we needed a basket.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tatum Brager got the night started with a basket in the first 30 seconds before the Warriors set off on a massive 11-point run to take a commanding 13-1 lead. Brager started the stretch at 7:48 and Hymas added five before back-to-back baskets by Herring capped the run at 5:02.
The two teams traded baskets throughout the rest of the opening quarter before buckets by Lindsey Wilson and Camden Barger gave LC State a 26-12 lead at the end of the frame.
Wilson, Ellee Brockman and Herring kept the offense going in the second quarter and two consecutive 3-pointers by Brager gave the Warriors a 40-23 advantage with 2:26 left in the first half. Beardin ended the frame with a triple to give LC State a 43-27 lead at the break.
Free throws by Byrd and layup by Beardin kept the momentum with the Warriors in the third quarter. Hymas sparked a 16-0 run at 6:02 that saw contributions from Byrd, Herring, Kendall Wallace, Ella Nelson and Wilson for a 63-35 cushion. LC State led 63-38 with 10 minutes to play.
Dickinson State started the final frame with two seven-point runs to cut the difference to 65-52 midway through, but a pair of 3-pointers by Beardin settled the game for LC State. Byrd and Hymas each scored to end the contest with the Warriors in front 79-58.
STAT RECAP
Hymas led the game with 18 points on a 7-for-13 night from the field to go with seven assists. Herring added 12 points and career-best 17 rebounds for a double-double and Beardin scored 11 points with a career-high three 3-pointers.
Byrd and Brager each tallied 10 points, and Byrd grabbed nine boards with six steals.
“Darian Herring had a huge night for us rebounding and did an absolutely fantastic job of going to get the basketball,” Orlandi said. “Sitara had a great all-around game, and the six steals were fantastic. Tatum Brager had a great night shooting the ball and did things defensively for us that don’t show up in the stat sheet.”
LC State shot 42.1% from the field and outrebounded DSU 50-39. The Warriors grabbed 32 boards in the second half and had 20 offensive rebounds in the contest. The LC State defense forced 19 turnovers and scored 21 points off those turnovers.
“20 offensive rebounds for 20 (second chance) points was extremely efficient and 46 points in the paint is exactly what we want to do,” Orlandi added. “Many positives from the weekend and now we get to watch ourselves on film and improve next week at practice.”
UP NEXT
LC State returns to the court Nov. 7-8 at home for games against Montana Western and Park-Gilbert (Ariz.).
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
