Lenoir Community College jumped out to a big lead early and cruised to a 74-48 victory over Spartanburg Methodist Monday night.
The Lancers (3-4) stretched their lead to 28 points at 36-8 with 4:10 remaining in the first half before the Pioneers ended the half on a 14-0 run to close the gap to 36-22.
LCC turned defense into offense all night, converting 33 turnovers into 38 points in transition. The Lancers shot just 27-of-69 (39 percent) from the floor. A torrid start for LCC buried the Pioneers, as the Lancers started the game on a 17-4 tear in which all but one field goal came in transition. The team shot 10 of 15 (67 percent) from the field in building a 28-point lead in the game’s first 16 minutes.
“Now that we are fully staffed, we are playing the kind of ball we want, and we looked good doing it,” Lancers coach Tad Parson said.
Freshman guard Jessica Barnes and sophomore guard Sekethia Williams combined for 11 steals for a Lancers team that recorded 19 total steals and forced 33 turnovers in a suffocating defensive effort.
“We finally started following through with what we have been practicing,” said Parson, who noted it is still early in the season. “The more we play, the better we get.”
After allowing the Pioneers to cut their deficit in half just before intermission, the Lancers came out of the locker room with renewed energy, opening the second half with a 14-2 run and eventually pushing its lead to as many as 30 points with just over 10 minutes left in the game. The Pioneers would never come within 25 again.
A big part of LCC’s success was the duo of freshman Jamika Ruffin and sophomore Jordan Hill, who had 20 points each for the Lancers. Hill also added 13 rebounds to record a double-double and paced the Lancers on the glass, as LCC out-rebounded Spartanburg 49-30.
“She is one of the premier players in our region,” Parson said of Hill. “A lot of colleges are looking at her, but she can’t let herself be content. She has to keep pushing herself.”
Ruffin and Hill were joined in double figures by Jessica Barnes, who had 10 points. Freshman point guard Taylor Torres finished with eight points and five assists.
The Pioneers were led by Mariah Williams, who had 11 points, while Morgan Alexander had 10.
Spartanburg 22 26 — 48
LCC 36 38 —74
Spartanburg scoring : Mariah Williams 11, Morgan Alexander 10, Samuel 8, Siebles 6, Pooler 5, Dozier 4, Dyches 2, Wheeler 2, Prince, Cloud, Gary.
LCC scoring: Jamika Ruffin 20, Jordan Hill 20, Jessica Barnes 10, Torres 8, Stokes 8, Huffin 3, Se. Williams 3, Fate 2, Jones, Oxendine, Coston, Wright.
