LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Senior forward Megan Risinger celebrated her 22nd birthday with her second double-double of the season to help the Lewis-Clark State College women's basketball team finish the Frontier Conference Las Vegas Shootout with an 86-65 win over Arizona Christian on Sunday.
The Warriors finished the three-day tournament 3-0 and improved to 9-0 on the season. In its three tournament games, LCSC won by an average of 27.6 points.
"We came out, unlike the first two games, and played very well in the first quarter," LCSC coach Brian Orr said. "We moved the ball well, shot the ball extremely well, and defended OK. But we got tested tonight. Arizona Christian has four really, really good players. They fought back and gave us a game."
With a 10-8 lead at the 7:06 mark of the first quarter, LCSC went on an 11-0 run and threatened to break the game open with a 21-8 advantage. But Arizona Christian fought back and a bucket by Makayla Enders in the paint at the 3:26 mark of the second quarter cut LCSC's lead to one, 31-30.
LCSC, however, responded with a 13-4 run to the end quarter for a 44-34 halftime lead. Arizona Christian cut the lead to seven early in the third quarter, and to nine early in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors responded each time.
"I always like being in tough battles because it builds your team," Orr said. "In the second half we were able to take control of the game and open it up. A lot of people really played well for us."
That list included Risinger, who finished with 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. It's the fourth time she's hit double digits in rebounds in her LCSC career, including three this season. She also had a double-double against Trinity Western early this season when she had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Sophomore post Jossilyn Blackman just missed her first double-double as she had 15 points to go with nine rebounds. She was 6-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 at the foul line.
"Jossilyn had her best game of the year," Orr said. "She had 2-3 big putbacks for us."
Senior guard Caelyn Orlandi also was close to a double-double with a team-high 19 points and a game-high eight assists. She also added six rebounds and two steals. Brittany Tackett added 16 points and seven boards as the Warriors put four players in double figures scoring and had a 47-26 rebounding advantage.
"It was a really fun game for us," Orr said. "We made a lot of good plays out there. It was fun to watch."
LCSC finished the game 33-of-68 from the field for 48.5 percent and 8-of-24 from the 3-point line for 33 percent. The Warriors held Arizona Christian to 25-of-57 from the field for 43.9 percent and 6-of-10 at the 3-point line, 31.6 percent. LCSC also forced 12 turnovers, eight of which came on steals.
The Warriors outscored Arizona Christian 38-20 in the paint and also had 24 second-chance points off of 20 offensive rebounds.
Prior to the tournament, Orr said he was looking forward to having three games in three days because it would simulate what LCSC could see at the NAIA national tournament. He echoed those comments after Sunday's win.
"We were faced with a whole different type of team each day," he said. "Xavier was extremely athletic and we handled that. But that was a different type of game than the Northwest Christian game because they pressured us. In all three games we were challenged. But I really like the way we responded. I thought our players were poised and nothing bothered us all weekend.
"I thought we really looked good today and were really efficient with the ball. I like the way we shared the basketball with 24 assists."
All three Frontier Conference teams that played in the tournament, LCSC, Carroll, and Rocky Mountain, went 3-0.
The Warriors will get back in town Monday night only to turn around and fly to California on Thanksgiving to take part in the Jersey Mike's Thanksgiving Classic in Santa Clarita, Calif. LCSC, ranked No. 7 in the NAIA, will face No. 14-ranked The Masters on Friday at 2 p.m., and then meet Hope International at noon on Saturday.
LCSC's next home game kicks off Frontier Conference play on Dec. 1 against Great Falls at 5:30 p.m. at the Activity Center.
