by STERLING, KAN. – The Lady Warriors looked to bounce back after a tough loss on Wednesday, as they took on the McPherson College Bulldogs in the Gleason Center on Saturday. Sterling was on fire on the offensive end, cruising to a 86-69 victory over McPherson.
The first quarter started off in the right direction for the Lady Warriors with a quick 7-2 0 run to start the game, with baskets from Jessica Princ (JR/Osborne, Kan.) and a three-pointer from Kennedy Sokoloski (SO/Locust Grove, Okla.). Sterling would continue to add to their lead with scores from Kilee Harris (JR/Protection, Kan.) and Raegan Swiftwater ()glala-Lakota/Anadarko, Okla.), but the Bulldogs would answer right back to make the score, 11-9 for Sterling. The two team would continue to trade baskets, with Sterling earning scores from Hailey Davis (SR/Haven, Kan.) and Jordin Greer (JR/Hoisington, Kan.), as the Lady Warriors looked to end the quarter on a run. With less than two minutes to play in the first quarter, back-to-back buckets by Greer and a score inside by Princ would put Sterling ahead after one, 22-16.
In the second quarter, Sterling would get started with another three-pointer from Kennedy Sokoloski, followed by a score by Mayda Stallbaumer (FR/Centralia, Kan.) and another shot from behind the arch by Raegan Swiftwater, giving the Lady Warriors a 30-20 lead. Sterling’s offense would continue to shine, with Kilee Harris and Jessica Princ adding to the Lady Warrior lead to put Sterling ahead by 14 towards the end of the quarter. Late baskets by Harris and Swiftwater would keep the Lady Warrior lead at a distance, as the two teams went into the half with Sterling leading McPherson, 40-28.
The Lady Warriors would continue their strong offensive surge into the third quarter, starting with basket by Kortney Ricke (SO/Cunningham, Kan.). McPherson would go on a 6-0 run to make it an eight point game, but Sterling would answer right back with a run of their own, taking a 49-36 lead midway through the quarter. More scores by Jessica Princ, Jordin Greer, and Kennedy Sokoloski would help the Lady Warriors extend their lead, while a bucket from Kilee Harris in the final seconds of the quarter would give Sterling 63-45 lead headed into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter of the game, Sterling would continue to dominate on offense, extending their lead throughout the quarter. After a three-pointer from Jordin Greer, the Lady Warriors would lead 70-48 with 8:20 left in the game. Scores from Raegan Swiftwater, Hailey Davis, Jessica Princ, and Kilee Harris would continue to pace the Lady Warriors throughout the quarter, as Sterling would go on to defeat McPherson, 86-69.
Sterling’s leading scorer was Jessica Princ, who had a career high 28 points and a team high 14 rebounds for the double-double. Kilee Harris finished with 16 points, while Jordin Greer and Raegan Swiftwater each added 11 for the Lady Warriors. Harris also had a team high eight assists for Sterling. The Lady Warriors shot 61.5% from the field and 66.7% from behind the arch, as well as shooting 82.4% from the charity stripe in the win.
Sterling (14-9, 8-7) will be back in action on Monday, January 30th as the Lady Warriors head to York, Nebraska to take on the York College Panthers at 5 p.m.
