Lady Devils overcome slow start to top Clark
Thursday, February 21, 2008 5:45 AM PST
By Rick McCorkle
Printable version
E-mail this articleFor the first nine minutes of Wednesday's game with Clark College, it appeared the Lower Columbia College Lady Devils' lackluster play had carried over from Tuesday's practice.
LCC trailed the Penguins 14-12 when it decided to turn up its offense. The Lady Devils scored 11 unanswered points as they rolled to a 9-point halftime lead, and blew the game open at the start of the second half en route to an 83-55 victory in NWAACC Western division play at Truman Myklebust Gym.
LCC (20-6, 13-2 league) has won six of its last seven games and 14 of its last 16 matchups. Clark, which had its postseason hopes dashed with the loss, fell to 7-15 and 5-10.
"They (the Penguins) switched up their defenses when we changed offenses, so I attribute that to our slow start," LCC coach Chad Meadors said. "We had to make adjustments ourselves and when we did we got better shots."
The Devils' 10 sophomores were also playing in their final game at Myklebust Gym.
"It was Sophomore Night, and the girls knew it would be the last time they will step on this floor and play a game," Meadors said. "They were emotional, but they still had the energy to come out and play."
LCC made one-third of its first-half shots (12-of-36), but cranked up its offense to make 63 percent of its shots (15-24) in the final 20 minutes.
"We played hard throughout and it was a solid effort, and when you're making shots you look a lot better," Meadors said. "We haven't made shots for the last few games, but for the last 4-5 minutes of the first half and into the second half we really knocked down shots and played great defense."
LCC stretched a 35-26 halftime lead into a 51-26 advantage four minutes into the second period, highlighted by 3-balls from Heidi Jackson and Jessi Hanna.
Jackson hit half of her six 3-point attempts and finished with 11 points, and Hanna went 2-5 from outside the arc for nine points.
While the Devils' offense was clicking, its defense held Clark to 11 points during a nine minute span midway through the period. Kourtney Craft and Megan Holmes drilled back-to-back treys from the right- and left-corners, respectively, and LCC had its largest lead - 68-37 - with 7:20 remaining.
The Devils' defense made 15 steals and forced 33 Clark turnovers that were converted into 30 points.
"Our defense has kept us in games, and it allowed us to finish one early," Meadors said. "We haven't done that often, and it's nice to relax and sub freely so everyone can play."
Nadra Evans led the Devils with 14 points and seven assists. Katie Garcin added 12 points and seven rebounds, and Jackson made four steals.
"We talked before the game and the girls were very motivated," Meadors added.. "It's nice to see have their final home game end on a note like that after they have done everything I've asked of them."
For Clark, Kalama's Mandy Wall netted a game-high 17 points and grabbed five rbounds. Ilwaco's Ashley Kitzman was held to 3-11 shooting for nine points, and Kalama's Carrie Loveall came off the bench for two points.
Ilwaco's Anna Kitzman and Kalama's Amanda Clark didn't play.
The Lady Devils close out their regular-season with South Puget Sound in Olympia Saturday.
Lady Devils 83, Penguins 55
CLARK (55) - Mandy Wall 17, Mallory Elliott 11, Ashley Kitzman 9, Kristina Wilson 4, Julisa Wright 4, Kippy Powers 5, Linh Nguyen 2, Carrie Loveall 2, May Patten 1, Samantha Riggan 0.
LOWER COLUMBIA (83) - Nadra Evans 14, Katie Garcin 12, Heidi Jackson 11, Jessi Hanna 9, Holly Weston 5, Kourtney Craft 6, Megan Holmes 6, Rene'e Evans 6, Jordan Budd 5, Kristina Craft 5, Kelsey Forrest 2, Kasey Craft 2, Shelby Junkman 0.
Halftime: LCC 35, Clark 26.
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