SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – After making 10 of its first 12 shots from the field, the Lewis-Clark State College women's basketball team didn't give Hope International, well, much hope in the matchup on Saturday afternoon.
 
And after the Warriors continued their hot shooting throughout the game, all hope was gone for Royals.
 
LCSC, ranked No. 7 in the NAIA, collected its 11 straight win to start the season with a 93-51 victory over its Golden State Athletic Conference foe. It's the best start to a season for LCSC since the 2013-14 campaign when it won its first 14 games.
 
On Saturday, it only took the Warriors 10 seconds to take control when senior guard Natahnee Spencer nailed a 3-pointer for a 3-0 lead. The Warriors proceeded to make nine of their next 11 shots in rolling out to a 24-11 first-quarter lead.
 
"We came out like gangbusters," LCSC coach Brian Orr said. "We really started the game well and our defense did a pretty good job in the first quarter."
 
LCSC never trailed in the contest and continued to build on its lead throughout. The Warriors led by as much as 21 in the first half before they settled for a 47-28 halftime lead. LCSC pushed the advantage to 64-37 at the end of the third quarter, and then went on a 22-1 run near the end of the contest for the lopsided win.
 
"We defended extremely well in the fourth quarter," Orr said. "That burst at the end was because of our defense. I think we just had one steal at halftime and we finished with 12. We converted a lot of those into fastbreak baskets."
 
LCSC has outscored the opposition by an average of 34.9 points per game this season.
 
The Warriors made 39-of-70 shots from the field for 55.7 percent and had a 46-22 rebounding advantage. LCSC also forced 19 turnovers in the game and finished with 22 assists.
 
"I don't know if I had a team at this point in the season share the basketball the way this team does," Orr said. "The way we move the ball, share the ball and find the open player. Our fastbreak is as good as it's ever been. That's one of our strengths and so far we've been able to control it."
 
While the Warriors' starting five put up particularly impressive shooting numbers, sophomore post Jossilyn Blackmon recorded her first double-double of her college career. She finished with 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, which marked the first time she also had been in double digits in rebounding in an LCSC uniform.
 
LCSC's starting five were a combined 22-of-34 from the field for 64.7 percent. Caeyln Orland was 7-of-9 shooting from the field and finished with 16 points, nine assists, and two steals. Brittany Tackett was 6-of-10 from the field for 12 points and had three steals, while Brooke Litalien was 5-of-7 from the field for 13 points.
 
Hailey Turner also was in double figures for LCSC with 12 points and added eight rebounds and two assists. Orr said he was happy to see LCSC's three post players, Tackett, Turner and Blackmon, all finished in double figures scoring. He said that's the first time it has happened for the Warriors this season.
 
Hope International finished the game 20-of-56 from the field for 35.7 percent and 6-of-21 from the 3-point line for 28.6 percent. Hope also was outscored 27-8 on points after turnovers.
 
The contest completes the second strong tournament weekend on the road for LCSC. On Friday night, LCSC defeated No. 14-ranked The Master's College 78-59. The previous weekend, LCSC went 3-0 in a tournament in Las Vegas.
 
"No doubt about it this was a great weekend for us," Orr said. "Yesterday (Friday) was a big game against a No. 14-ranked team, but it would have been a very shallow win if we didn't come out and perform and win tonight. It doesn't matter who you play, you have to come out and prove it every night."
 
LCSC's next game will be the start of Frontier Conference play on Thursday when it takes on the University of Great Falls at 5:30 p.m. at the Activity Center in a rematch of last year's conference tournament title game, which the Warriors won. LCSC will play host to Montana State-Northern on Saturday, also at 5:30 in conference play.
 
LCSC plays only five games during December. Along with the two this week, the Warriors will be at Whitworth on Dec. 16, then will play an exhibition game against the University of Idaho on Dec. 27 in Moscow. The Warriors resume conference play on New Year's Eve with a home game against Montana Tech at 3:30 p.m.