91-44 Win Gives #7 Seward Best Start Since 06-07

As you watched Seward County's Friday afternoon matinee affair against MiraCosta in the first round of the 2013 Holiday Festival Tournament in Oceanside, California, you would never know that the Lady Saints had been apart for the past three weeks.  Without a practice since dispersing for the holiday break, Seward got off to a quick start and cruised to a 91-44 win over the host Spartans to move to 12-0 on the year and into the semifinals of the tournament.  

The Lady Saints started the game with the ball ping ponging around the floor before getting it inside to Shanise Brooks for an easy two in the paint and it was a sign of things to come in a contest that was never in question for the gals in green.  Seward led 18-7 seven minutes into things before a Fabiana Monte three put them ahead 21-7.  The Lady Saints continued to push, outscoring the winless Spartans 9-3 over the next three minutes to take a 30-10 lead to the midway point of the first half.  Kyndal Davis got loose for a pair of breakaway layups and Monte nailed another three as the Lady Saints quickly put the game out of reach before halftime.  Seward went to the break leading 46-19 as they shot 58% as a team compared to MiraCosta who's offensive struggles continued, shooting just 31%, right at their season average.  

With the game well in hand, the Lady Saints continued to add to their lead as the second half got underway.  A free throw line jumper from Janel Tammen gave Seward a 57-23 lead with 16:44 remaining and a lightning quick drive and score from Alana Simon added to the Lady Saints lead to make it 57-23 just moments late.r  The lone bright spot in the game for MiraCosta was freshman guard Brogan Griffin who had 16 points just four minutes into the second half, but after injuring her ankle after scoring in the paint, she was forced to the sideline and it spelled disaster for the Lady Spartans.  Seward held MiraCosta without a field goal for the next five minutes, extending their already big lead to a whopping 72-31 as the game ticked under 10:00 to go.  The Lady Saints continued to get points from everyone on the floor with all eight dressed players finishing with six or more points in the game.  Seward cruised to the finish line, coming away with a 91-44 to remain unbeaten on the season.  

Seward finished the game shooting 55% from the field while holding MiraCosta to just 33% shooting in the affair.  The Lady Saints saw five players reach double figures in scoring including Davis who led the team with 20 and Monte who had her third 17 point scoring effort of the season.  Monte, who finished 3 of 4 from three point land for the Lady Saints also led Seward with a team high 9 rebounds and 6 assists in the win.  Seward forced 34 MiraCosta turnovers and allowed the Lady Spartans just 3 offensive rebounds, all in the second half, in the victory.  

The #7 Lady Saints improve to 12-0 on the year, marking their best start as a program since the 2006-2007 season when they opened the year 24-0 on their way to a 36-2 campaign and third place national finish. MiraCosta remains in search of their first win of the season as they fall to 0-7.  

Seward will get a much stiffer test on Saturday in the tournament semifinals as they meet up with a 10 win Eastern Arizona team who cruised to a win over Merritt College in the fourth quarterfinal of the day Friday.  The Lady Saints and the Gila Monsters will tip at 5:30 PST.  The game can be heard live at kscbnews.net with pregame coverage beginning at 5:15 local time.