LEWISTON, Idaho – The No. 22 LC State women are moving on to the Opening Round Championship after a dominant 73-44 victory over the William Jessup Warriors. What made the win even more special was the near-400 fans in attendance, many for the first time this season.
 
"It is really a special thing," Orr explained. "Not only because it is the national tournament here, but because of the fact that their parents are here. We really feel blessed to be hosting."
 
The Warrior women put together a spectacular season half, highlighted by a 30-point third quarter and a 49.1 shooting percentage from the floor. LC State was led by a 16-point night by Abbie Johnson, a double-double (14 points and 12 rebounds) from Kiara Burlage, and 12 points with eight assists from Peyton Souvenir.
 
The LC Warrior women came out strong with 14 straight points for an early advantage. Johnson contributed five of the first seven, and Souvenir drained a 3 at 4:02 to cap the run. Three free throws by Jessup ended the run and made it an 11-point game. The Jessup Warriors rallied to cut the lead to 17-11 by the end of the first 10 minutes.
 
WJU struck first in the second frame, but four points from Johnson and a 3-pointer by Burlage pushed the lead back to 24-16. A six-point run by Jessup brought the visiting Warriors within two, but a free throw by Burlage kept LC in front 25-22 at the break.
 
Burlage opened the second half with an and-one play to grow the advantage to six points, and a triple by Abby Farmer kept LC State in front. Jansen Edmiston found Souvenir under the basket to make it 33-27 before another 3 by Farmer made it a 10-point run.
 
"I thought our fast break in the second half really exploded onto the scene and got us some transition baskets," Orr said. "Abby Farmer hit some big 3s to get the momentum going our way, and Abbie Johnson hit a couple too, but our offense looked a lot better in the second half."
 
The LC State rally grew to 12, making the advantage 40-27, before Jessup scored for the first time in four minutes. LC quickly responded with a three-point play to regain the momentum, and Burlage follow shortly after with another and-one. The LC Warriors led 46-29 with 2:56 left in the third.
 
Johnson doubled her season total with her second 3 of the night late in the third before dropping in a layup on an assist from Souvenir. A behind the back shot by the senior made it six straight LC points scored by Johnson before Souvenir capped the quarter to make it 55-34.
 
Souvenir made a 3 look effortless for the first LC points of the final frame. Maddie Holm joined in on the fun at 5:50 with a triple of her own, and Sara Muehlhausen found the basket at 3:51 to give LC State a 65-39 lead.
 
The Warriors from Lewiston continued to find success in heavy traffic under the basket with three-point plays by Holm and Hannah Broyles. The LC State Warriors advanced to Saturday's championship game with a 73-44 victory over Jessup.
 
The seniors commanded the court for LC State. Johnson was a force with 16 points. She was 7-for-10 from the floor, including 2-for-2 from 3-point range. Burlage notched her third double-double of the season with her 14 points and 12 boards, and Souvenir orchestrated the offense with eight dimes to go with 12 points.
 
"Peyton is playing with tremendous confidence," Orr said. "She really has emerged into a great floor leader for us."
 
The Warriors face a tough challenge tomorrow evening in the Opening Round Championship game. LC State will take on top-seeded No. 6 Carroll College for a spot at the final site in Sioux City, Iowa. The Warriors took one of three meeting with the Fighting Saints earlier this season.
 
"Hopefully we can come out and play with a lot of poise and confidence to start the game," Orr said, "but we know Carroll is a great team. It is going to be a battle. Our goal is to play to our potential. If we can play to our potential, then we feel like we have a great chance."
 
Tipoff for Saturday is set for 5 p.m. in the Activity Center. The game will be streamed, for a charge, on the Warriors Sport Network. KOZE will also carry the game on the radio.
 
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.