ALBANY, Ore. — The Lower Columbia College women's basketball team proved that it's not about how you start, but how you finish.
The Red Devils completed a perfect 3-0 weekend at the NWAC Crossover hosted by Linn-Benton Community College, relying on explosive second-half performances to sweep the tournament. With victories over Treasure Valley, Bellevue, and the host Roadrunners, Lower Columbia improves to 7-3 on the season.
Here is a recap of the Devils' dominant weekend in the Willamette Valley:
Game 1: Red Devils 77, Treasure Valley 72
(Friday, Dec. 12)
Resilience was the theme of the day for the Lower Columbia College women's basketball team on Friday.
Facing a double-digit halftime deficit and trailing by as many as 14 points in the second half, the Red Devils mounted a furious comeback to stun Treasure Valley Community College 77-72 at the NWAC Crossover tournament hosted by Linn-Benton Community College.
The victory improves Lower Columbia's record to 5-3 on the season.
The game came down to a thrilling final minute. With the score tied at 72-72, sophomore Adrian Wright delivered the biggest shot of the night, draining a go-ahead 3-pointer with just 17 seconds remaining on the clock. The Red Devil defense held firm on the ensuing possession, and Angelica Askey iced the game with two free throws at the buzzer to seal the five-point victory.
It was a tale of two halves for LCC. The Chukars (6-3) controlled the early tempo, taking a 42-32 lead into the locker room and extending that advantage to 48-34 early in the third quarter. However, the Red Devils refused to fold. Ramping up their defensive pressure, LCC forced Treasure Valley into 18 turnovers for the game, converting those miscues into 24 points.
Shailoh Li'ili'i anchored the Red Devils in the paint, leading the team with 16 points and pulling down a team-high nine rebounds. She also was a menace at the rim defensively, recording three blocked shots.
The Red Devils showcased a balanced offensive attack with four players scoring in double figures:
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Angelica Askey finished with 13 points, five rebounds, and a game-high four steals.
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Adrian Wright tallied 12 points, including the game-winner, to go along with six rebounds.
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Jaci Gonnie provided a spark with 12 points, knocking down two three-pointers.
LCC's bench also played a pivotal role, outscoring the Treasure Valley reserves 23-13. Taysia Molina-Schulte chipped in 6 points on perfect shooting (2-for-2 from deep) in limited minutes.
Despite being outrebounded 52-41, the Red Devils made up for it with efficiency from beyond the arc, shooting 42.9% (6-of-14) from three-point range compared to just 31.6% for the Chukars.
Game 2: Red Devils 76, Bellevue 68
(Saturday, Dec. 13)
In a game that featured a tale of two defenses, the Red Devils overcame a slow defensive start to suffocate the Bellevue Bulldogs down the stretch.
Bellevue came out firing, putting up 40 points in the first quarter alone to put LCC in a massive hole. However, the Red Devils tightened the screws defensively as the game progressed, culminating in a dominant fourth quarter where they outscored the Bulldogs 26-10 to secure the victory.
Jaci Gonnie was the catalyst for the offense, pouring in a game-high 21 points. Gonnie was lethal from deep, connecting on 5-of-11 attempts from three-point range. Adrian Wright continued her strong weekend, adding 17 points on 7-of-18 shooting while battling for 38 minutes.
Shannel Kovalsky led Bellevue with 15 points, but the Bulldogs had no answer for the Red Devils' late-game intensity. LCC forced 19 turnovers and capitalized with 18 points off those mistakes.
Box Score Highlights:
Game 3: Red Devils 81, Linn-Benton 66
(Sunday, Dec. 14)
Lower Columbia saved their best offensive explosion for last, routing the host Linn-Benton Roadrunners 81-66 behind a scorching third quarter.
Trailing 34-28 at halftime, LCC came out of the locker room on fire. The Red Devils erupted for 37 points in the third quarter, completely flipping the momentum of the game. They turned a six-point halftime deficit into a commanding lead heading into the final frame.
Angelica Askey was unstoppable, leading all scorers with 23 points. Askey was efficient from all levels, shooting 8-of-14 from the floor, 3-of-8 from deep, and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. She also dished out 5 assists and grabbed 5 rebounds in a complete performance.
Shailoh Li'ili'i controlled the interior with 13 points and 9 rebounds, while the LCC bench provided a crucial spark, outscoring Linn-Benton's reserves 23-2.
The Red Devils' defense was opportunistic, recording 9 steals and forcing the Roadrunners into 21 turnovers. LCC closed the game out comfortably, leading by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter.
Box Score Highlights:
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Angelica Askey: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
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Shailoh Li'ili'i: 13 points, 9 rebounds
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3rd Quarter Scoring: LCC 37 - LBCC 15
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Bench Points: LCC 23 - LBCC 2
Up Next The Red Devils (7-3) will look to ride this three-game winning streak as they prepare for their next game on Thursday, December 18 vs the Clark Penguins (2-5) at 5:30 pm. The game will be held at Portland Community College.
