Danielle McNamara gets in defensive position while Sydney Schwabe reacts. (Photo by Mojo Hill)
DEVILS LAKE — Miles Community College, which entered in fifth place in the Mon-Dak, inched closer multiple times in Sunday’s contest.
But Lake Region State College — fourth place entering the day — fended off each comeback attempt. The Royals (15-10, 5-4) won their second straight conference game, locking down an 83-64 win over MCC (12-15, 4-5) at the Devils Lake Sports Center.
“We played well together, especially in the second half,” LRSC head coach Colden Hutton said. “If we play together, we share the ball, we move the ball well, we’re a tough team to beat.”
Zoie Austin led the Royals with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Sydney Schwabe and Jenna Tierney each added 13 points and eight rebounds. Danielle McNamara was in double-figure points, along with eight rebounds.
The Royals grabbed a 10-point lead in the first quarter. But they committed seven personal fouls in the first quarter and 10 in the half. They had 20 on the night, while MCC had 22.
The Pioneers never really capitalized on LRSC’s fouls, though, going just 12-for-24 from the free throw line. The Royals were only a little better themselves, at 14-for-25.
“We did not play very good defense, especially in the first half. I mean, we were fouling like nobody’s business,” Hutton said. “We’ve got to continue to build towards that 40 minutes of really good defense.”
After LRSC led by as many as 12 in the second quarter, MCC went on an 11-2 run, getting within three points.
Austin hit a triple to grow LRSC’s lead back to multiple possessions.
She scored 11 in each half. It was yet another well-rounded game for the freshman from Bismarck Century.
“She’s tough, especially getting downhill,” Hutton said. “She’s super tough to get in front and stay in front. But tonight, she did a really good job of sharing the basketball. When she got there, they kind of collapsed on her … being able to make those kick-outs, find those open shooters.”
MCC got back within two points early in the second half. The Pioneers missed a pair at the stripe with a chance to tie, and then McNamara stepped in the spotlight. She hit her own game-separating three.
LRSC went on a 10-0 run from there. The Royals led by as many as 16 in the third quarter.
The Pioneers trimmed the lead as small as nine on two occasions in the fourth. LRSC never let them fully back in, as Tierney hit a pair of back-breaking threes.
She was the final — and perhaps most important — separator of the afternoon. But she continued a game-long theme.
“Jenna hit two big threes for us late. … It was big-time for us to kind of have players step up,” Hutton said. “And every night is different for us. I mean, we’ve got eight, nine people that can step up and play right away.”
Kiritiana Patea added seven points off the bench.
The Royals fended off a 14-point second half from Laynee Elness and 19 points off the bench by Jai Baumann to secure the win.
On Monday, they’ll rematch with Dawson Community College. In their last meeting, in Montana, they were up 16 and ended up losing by one.
DCC is in fourth place now with a 4-4 conference record. LRSC, for the time being, sits in third at 5-4, with Miles Community College right behind at 4-5 and fifth place.
“It’s a massive game for us,” Hutton said. “Three through five, it’s us, Miles and Dawson, all kind of in that area. And so we’ve got to be able to win that one. If we win that one, we basically have the three seed. And so that’s something that we keep harping on this week.”
It’s an unusual game setting and time, with tip-off set for 12 p.m. Monday at Four Winds Community High School.
Hutton said there’s something like 300 kids expected to be in attendance.
“They’re going to pack it,” he said. “It’ll be nice to play in a blue gym, too, not necessarily a red gym all the time. … Hopefully have the crowd on our side and make it a really good atmosphere for us to go play Dawson there.”
