The Lower Columbia College women's basketball team kicked off their season with a bang, using a suffocating defense and a massive second-half surge to pull away from Blue Mountain, 82-66, in front of 356 fans at Myklebust Gymnasium on Saturday.

The Red Devils (1-0) overcame a slow start that saw them trailing 19-11 after the first quarter and 38-34 at halftime.

The game completely flipped in the second half, thanks to LCC's relentless defensive pressure. The Red Devils forced an astounding 35 turnovers from the Timberwolves, collecting 21 steals as a team. That defensive effort translated directly to offense, as LCC scored 32 points off turnovers.

After chipping away to take a 55-49 lead into the final period, the Red Devils' offense exploded for 27 points in the fourth quarter, led by an incredible spark from the bench. Taylor Dagons was unstoppable, scoring all 16 of her points in the final frame to put the game away.

Dagons was one of five Red Devils to score in double figures, showcasing a balanced and deep attack. Angelica Askey had a stellar all-around game, finishing with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists. Adrian Wright was close behind with 15 points and 5 boards. Crimson Childs ran the offense effectively, scoring 13 points to go with a team-high 6 assists, while Shailoh Li'ili'i added 13 points and 2 steals in just 16 minutes.

The Red Devils' dominant defensive performance and balanced scoring were enough to overcome a tough shooting night from the free-throw line (51.9%) and beyond the arc (16.7%).

Blue Mountain's Ella Stewart led all scorers with 26 points in the loss. The Red Devils will look to build on this strong opening win as they continue their season.