LEWISTON, Idaho – The Warrior women put on a show to open the 2019-20 basketball season in the Activity Center on Monday. LC State women's basketball did not allow a field goal in the opening quarter, outscoring the Yellowstone Christian College Centurions 23-2 to open the game. The onslaught continued from there as the Warriors cruised to a 105-42 victory.
Heidi Sellman began her Warrior career with a double-double on 11 rebounds and 10 points. Kiara Burlage led the team with a career-high 20 points, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, 1-for-1 from behind the arc and 9-for-9 from the free throw line. Jansen Edmiston grabbed a career-best eight rebounds in her return to the court.
It was all gas and no brakes from the tip as the Warriors went on an 18-point scoring rampage. A pair of points on free throws did not phase LC and they led by a commanding 23-2 after the first 10 minutes.
The Centurions struck first in the second frame, but a 3-pointer by Rachel Schroeder got the ball rolling again for LC and sent them on another 18-point run. Five-straight points by senior Jamie Nielson upped the lead to 41-4 to close the run. YCC managed a few more points before a 3-pointer by Nielson and a pair of free throws by Sellman ended the half with LC leading 51-12.
The third quarter was much of the same with the Warriors outscoring Yellowstone Christian 30-10. After Peyton Souvenir got the scoring started, Burlage rattled off three-straight buckets to grow the advantage to 58-12. Hannah Burland and Edmiston drained a pair of 3s, and Sara Muhelhausen hit a basket in the final seconds to end the quarter with LC in front 82-22.
The Warriors closed out the first contest of the season on a strong note. A basket by transfer Alexis Sykora gave the Warriors their largest lead of the game by a 72-point margin (101-29), and LC took the game 105-42.
Burlage led the Warriors with a career-high 20 points, and Nielson finished with 16. Freshman Schroeder opened her career with 13 points and Edmiston added 12. Every Warrior scored in the game and they shot 54.8 percent as a team. They went 14-for-16 from the line and hit 11 3-pointers, including three by Schroeder. The Warrior bench outscored the YCC bench 53-5.
"It's always good when everyone scores and your team shoots a good percentage, has single-digit turnovers and 20-plus assists," coach Brian Orr. "It was a good start to the season and we are looking forward to the challenge of playing the next three exhibition games."
The Warriors hit the road for three exhibitions games against NCAA Division I teams, beginning with Montana on Friday at 7 p.m. PT.
