LONGVIEW, Wash. – On a night where defense and rebounding reigned supreme, the Lower Columbia Red Devils flexed their muscle in the paint to secure a 70-56 victory over the Green River Gators at Myklebust Gymnasium on Saturday.
With the win, Lower Columbia improves to 14-3 on the season and remains perfect in NWAC West Region play at 2-0. Green River falls to 8-9 overall and 1-1 in league action.
Game Narrative
From the opening tip, the Red Devils looked to establish dominance inside. Lower Columbia jumped out to a fast start, scoring 25 points in the first quarter to take a nine-point lead. While the offensive pace slowed into a defensive grind in the second quarter, the Red Devils never relinquished control, heading into the locker room with a 39-28 halftime advantage.
The second half turned into a showcase of Lower Columbia's defensive identity. The Red Devils refused to give the Gators any breathing room, holding Green River to just 11 points in the third quarter. Whenever the visitors attempted to rally, LCC's size proved to be the ultimate equalizer. The Red Devils dominated the glass, outrebounding Green River 55-37, and used 17 offensive rebounds to generate crucial second-chance opportunities.
The Gators struggled to find a rhythm all night against LCC's suffocating pressure, shooting just 27.3% from the field (21-of-77) and 19.4% from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Red Devils were relentless in the key, outscoring Green River 34-26 in the paint.
Adrian Wright was the engine driving the Red Devils' success. The sophomore forward posted a monster double-double, leading all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting while tearing down 12 rebounds—four of which came on the offensive end.
Jaci Gonnie provided the perimeter balance to Wright's inside presence. Gonnie finished with 16 points, hitting three 3-pointers, and filled the box sheet with 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
Defensively, Shailoh Li'ili'i was a wall in the lane. She tallied a game-high 5 blocked shots, altering the Gators' game plan repeatedly, while also grabbing 10 rebounds and chipping in 8 points.
Regan Brewer and Angelica Askey were instrumental in controlling the game's flow. Brewer was a pest in the passing lanes with a game-high 4 steals to go with her 12 points and 8 rebounds. Askey served as the primary playmaker, dishing out a game-high 8 assists while directing the offense for nearly the entire contest.
Up next, LCC heads to Lakewood, WA on Wednesday, January 14 to take on the Pierce Raiders. Tip is set for 7:30 pm.
The LCC men will tip first at 5:30 pm.
