Rochester alum duo Paige Winter and Lexie Sederberg-Jones combined for 36 points to help Centralia College women’s basketball nab its first win of the season in an 81-59 thumping of Bellevue Wednesday during the Blazers’ home opener.
Winter, a 2020 Rochester grad, scored 17 points on a scorching 7 of 9 shooting and hauled down a game-high 13 boards.
Sederberg-Jones, also a 2020 Rochester grad, dropped a game-high 19 points, including three 3-pointers, and swiped five steals to lead the Blazers in scoring for the third time in four games this season.
The Blazers (1-3), who have struggled offensively in all three of its losses this season, finally found their rhythm offensively, jetting out on a 14-0 run to start the game.
But Bellevue battled back as both teams ended the first half with scoring sprees, with the Bruins knocking in 20 points in the second quarter and the Blazers hitting for 30. The Blazers shot a red-hot 63% in the second quarter.
“I can’t remember ever scoring 30 points in a quarter,” Centralia College coach Caleb Sells said.
The Blazers clamped back down defensively in the fourth quarter, outsourcing the Bruins 16-11, and cruised the rest of the way to victory.
There was one big difference-maker between this game and the Blazers’ previous three losses to start the season.
“We made 52% of our shots,” Sells said.
Shawnacee Davis added 13 points and five assists, Najahia Forks knocked in 15 points and Allison DeBerry contributed nine points, six assists and zero turnovers.
Centralia College will look to keep the momentum going when it heads to Clark College for a 2 p.m. matchup on Saturday.
