Three Rivers College won 80-67 at the Bess Activity Center. The Lady Raiders (18-10) opened the second half by taking their first double-digit lead and didn't look back. Up by seven at halftime, Hailee Erickson sank a 3, then Sydni Williams got a steal and DeNayia Holmes assisted Erickson for another 3. The Lady Raiders led by at least eight the rest of the game. Three Rivers had a 20-point lead with five minutes left in the game when Alex Kohler sank a 3 that was sandwiched between layups by Williams and Lakeita Chappel for a seven point Lady Raider run and Three Rivers stayed up by double digits the rest of the way. The Lady Raiders outscored ASU Mid-South (8-12) in every quarter and was 24 for 30 on free throws. "Hopefully we can continue that trend of making the majority of our free throws," Walk said. "When you make free throws like that, it offsets the poor shooting night we had."
Holmes led the way at the foul line by going 8 for 9 to finish with 12 points. She also had eight assists, three steals and three rebounds. Erickson had 17 points after going 5 for 8 on 3-pointers. Chappel got 12 points and six rebounds and Markeia Porter had 11 points and nine rebounds to give the Lady Raiders four players in double figures. Three Rivers' 24 free throws was two less than its season high, set in a 91-73 win against Arkansas Baptist. It was also the second this season Three Rivers has shot 80 percent or better from the foul line. The only other time was in a 72-45 loss to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, when the Lady Raiders were 9 for 11. Three Rivers also committed nine fewer turnovers and had plus-17 on points off turnovers. "We pressed them pretty hard, man-to-man full court, and got four or five steals right under the basket and were able to score. That was basically the difference in the game," Walk said. The Greyhounds had 14 more rebounds and 10 more offensive rebounds, but were only plus-three on second chance points. "We held our own (rebounding) in the first half, seven half we didn't hold our own as good. There were kids laying on the floor. It was pretty physical," Walk said. Sable Greer scored 18 points on 8 for 21 shooting to lead Arkansas State, which also had four players in double figures and played seven players. In games where Three Rivers has attempted 30 or more free throws, it is 5-3. The Lady Raiders host Mineral Area on Saturday and Crowder on Feb. 24 before starting the Region XVI tournament.
Scott Borkgren - Daily American Republic