KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Ellie Sander scored 15 points in the final 10 minutes and
Darian Herring set the program's single season block record to help No. 25 LC State punch its ticket to the national tournament with a 63-47 victory over No. 23 Oregon Tech on Saturday. The Warrior women will take on No. 2 Southern Oregon in the title game of the Cascade Conference Championship, presented by U.S. Bank, on Tuesday.
Seniors Sander and
Mataya Green were the sparks LC State needed to get past a talented OIT team in one of the toughest places to play in the CCC.
"There is not much more I could ask of Mataya and Ellie," coach
Caelyn Orlandi said. "They are Warriors through and through and demonstrated absolute toughness and willed us into a win today. I thought we defended well tonight and to hold a very good team to 50 in their gym was fantastic. OIT is a skilled team with excellent rebounders and should get an at-large bid to the tournament. Congrats to them on a great season.
"I absolutely love this team and getting to compete with them," Orlandi added. "I can't praise them enough for always giving me and each other all that they can. I am so proud of them and a big congratulations to our squad for making the national tournament."
The victory in the Cascade Conference semifinal secured the CCC's second automatic bid into the national tournament with SOU earning the first by winning the regular season. No matter the outcome on Tuesday, LC State will keep dancing.
"We know SOU is a great team, but we are too," Orlandi said. "We are going to go compete and I love how we are playing right now. Congratulations to Darian on the single season block record. You earned it. We are lucky you are defending on our basket."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Herring scored the first basket for LC State and free throws by
Mataya Green gave the Warriors an early 4-2 edge. A steal by Sander fed a basket by
Sitara Byrd to cap a 6-0 run in the first two minutes. Baskets by Herring and
Payton Hymas kept LC State in front by a slim margin and a basket by Sander, the fifth Warrior to score in the contest, made it 12-6 at 6:01.
Foul shots by Sander and a layup by Green kept the LC State offense going before a jumper by Byrd made it a 10-point lead, 18-8, at 2:46. Green and Sander scored to cap the 10-point run for a 22-8 advantage by 1:36. OIT scored twice in the final minute for a 22-12 score after 10 minutes.
Oregon Tech made it six points in a row before a layup by
Lindsey Wilson pushed the lead back to 10, 24-14, at 7:53. The Warriors were held off the board for four minutes and the Owls scored six in the span to cut the margin to four, but a 3 by Sander pushed the score to 27-20 wat 3:18.
Grace Beardin scored but Oregon Tech answered with four to make it 29-26 in the final two minutes of the half. The Owls gained momentum in the final minute before a last-second layup by
Camden Barger moved the Warrior lead to 33-29 at the break.
OIT controlled the pace to start the third quarter and evened the score 33-33 at 7:43, and the score sat tied until a basket by Green at 4:46. The senior scored the first two Warrior baskets of the quarter to push the lead back to 37-33 at 3:26.
Wilson answered Owl free throws with a pair of layups for a 41-38 edge to close the third frame.
Sander scored on the first possession of the fourth quarter and the Warriors held OIT off the board for nearly three minutes. Sander scored five straight points to grow the LC State advantage to 48-40 at 6:27.
Barger drained a 3-pointer for a double-digit cushion as the basket capped the 8-0 run with the Warriors in front 51-40 at 5:52. Sander hit two free throws before a pair of triples to bring the lead to 59-42 by 3:02.
Green and
Tatum Brager added free throws in the final moments and OIT hit a 3 at the buzzer, but LC State's damage was done.
STAT RECAP
Sander led the contest with 24 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field, 4-for-7 from 3-point range and was 6-for-6 from the free throw line. She scored 15 points in the fourth quarter alone. Green added 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
Herring set the single season blocks record with four on the night. She has 81 on the season which passes the mark of 78 set by Kirsi Voshell during the 2011-12 season.
The Warriors shot 45.1% from the field and were a perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line. LC State's defense held OIT to just 31.5% from the field and 13.3% from 3-point range. The Owls tallied just two field goals in the third frame. The Warriors converted 19 Oregon Tech turnovers into 18 points.
UP NEXT
The Warriors will play for the Cascade Conference tournament title in Ashland, Ore., on Tuesday against No. 2 Southern Oregon. Because SOU won the regular-season title and the CCC's first automatic bid, the Warriors earned the second by advancing to the title game.
The NAIA Women's Basketball selection show is set for Mar. 6. The Warriors will learn where they will play in the NAIA Women's Basketball First and Seconds Rounds Mar. 14-15.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
