College Place – Walla Walla women's basketball hosted the Pioneers of Lewis and Clark College (LCC) (Portland, Ore.) Saturday evening on Windemuth Court. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Wolves had made history, winning the programs' first-ever game against an NCAA Division III opponent. Behind a team-high 15 steals and stingy defense, the Wolves held the Pioneers, who were playing in a back-to-back, to 28.6 percent shooting for a 69-51 victory.
"Our defense was great from the first minute of the game," said head coach
Paul Starkebaum. "Isabella is a very smart defender, and she was all over the court tonight, which helped set the tone for our team. Jaliyah and Carolina ran us through the offense very well. Jaliyah really set the tone for us by getting to the basket, while Carolina hit big shots all night."
The Wolves set the tone early, as they picked up full-court pressure, which forced the Pioneers to rush into their offense. The Wolves built a quick 5-2 lead and did not look back. Using the three-ball, the Wolves created open lanes to take a 13-6 lead heading into the first-quarter media timeout. The Wolves continued displaying solid defense, forcing the Pioneers to shoot 25 percent from the field for the first quarter.
The defense continued fueling the Wolves to open the second quarter, as they took advantage of a six-minute Pioneers scoring drought, building their lead to 16 points. A Logan Kelly jumper finally stopped the scoring drought, but the Wolves continued to keep the foot on the gas, pushing the lead to 20 on a
Celina Ewing layup before entering the intermission up 35-16.
Coming out of the second half, the Pioneers attempted to chip away, cutting their deficit to 16 after Hannah Martin converted both free-throw attempts. The Wolves, like they did all first half, responded, putting together a 7-3 run and continually forcing the Pioneers to foul and converting all seven points from the charity stripe.
The Wolves did not surrender their lead in the second half.
Jaliyah Casem knocked in a jumper with 1:14 left in the third period to give the home team its largest lead at 24 and the Wolves did not look back, as they fended off a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by the Pioneers.
"I feel like the team approached the game in the right way tonight, they were very focused and had great energy from the start of our warmups through the end of the game," said Starkebaum. "We have a busy week ahead of us and they got us off to a great start. Also, the best crowd we have had at a home game. We need them for every game this year. I would like to thank them for creating an awesome atmosphere."
KEY MOMENTS:
- The Wolves ended the opening quarter on a 6-0 while holding the Pioneers scoreless for the last three minutes of the period. Jacqueline Saucedo, playing in her first game since an ACL injury last October, fueled the run.
- Defensively, the second quarter was key for the Wolves as they held the Pioneers to one made field goal and five total points for the quarter.
- Despite sending LCC to the line 18 times in the first half, the Pioneers shot a paltry 7-18.
- Despite 25 points from Pioneers forward Hannah Martin, the Wolves held the rest of the team in check, as the next highest scorer recorded only seven points.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Carolina Montes and her five made 3-pointers tied the school record since joining the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC).
- The Wolves logged 15 steals for another school record since joining the CCC. Jaliyah Casem led the Wolves with six, one short of the record.
- The seven blocks the Wolves recorded were the most since the team has been in the CCC. Anissa Babitu and Isabella Robles each recorded two blocks to lead the Wolves.
- The Wolves turned 25 Pioneer turnovers into 25 points while only allowing the Pioneers to score seven points off 17 turnovers.
NEXT GAME:
The Wolves will continue their preseason, squaring off against another D-3 opponent, No. 21-Ranked Whitman College. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Windemuth Court.
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