LONGVIEW, WA — The Lower Columbia College Women's Basketball team improved its record to 2-0 with a commanding performance on Tuesday night, defeating the Mt Hood Saints 80-40 in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Myklebust Gymnasium. The Red Devils controlled the game from the opening tip, showcasing suffocating defense and incredible team depth.
Lower Columbia established an immediate presence, utilizing fast-paced offense and stifling defense to jump out to a 20-15 lead after the first quarter. The defensive intensity ramped up significantly in the second period, holding the Saints to just 8 points while pouring in 23 of their own. By halftime, LCC had built a 43-23 cushion, never looking back.
The Red Devils' interior defense was impenetrable, anchored by forward Shailoh Li'ili'i, who delivered an incredible performance with 7 blocks, a massive total that shut down the paint repeatedly. Li'ili'i finished the night just shy of a double-double with 13 points and 9 rebounds.
Offensively, the scoring was well-distributed, a testament to the team's outstanding depth. Guard Taylor Dagons led the scoring effort with 15 points (on an efficient 6-for-12 shooting), along with 3 steals. The LCC bench was a powerhouse, contributing a whopping 42 points to Mt Hood's 15. Standout performances off the bench included Breanna Albright, who provided a crucial spark with 10 points and 6 rebounds.
The defensive pressure applied by the Red Devils forced the Saints into 25 turnovers, which LCC quickly converted into 29 points. LCC dominated the boards, outrebounding the Saints 50 to 25, led by Li'ili'i's nine and Breanna Albright's six. Point guard Angelica Askey also facilitated the offense brilliantly, dishing out 5 assists while adding 3 steals and a block.
Continuing their stellar play in the second half (outscoring Mt Hood 37-17), the Red Devils stretched their lead to a game-high 41 points late in the fourth quarter. The win moves the Red Devils to 2-0 on the young season.
Devils are back on the home court tonight, November 19th, with a 6:00 pm tip vs the Portland Panthers.
