Continuing a bounce-back campaign that began in mid-December, St. Louis Community College collected its fifth win in the team’s past seven games on Saturday with an 82-60 rout of North Centeral College.
The Archers entered the second half trailing by one, but outscored North Central 30-12 in the third quarter to seal the win.
The Archers were guided once again by sophomore guard Shiana Carrington, who secured a double-double with 36 points and 10 rebounds. Since December 30, Carrington has appeared in five games, and has scored no fewer than 22 points in any of them.
“We anticipated for her to make an impact, but you never know until the games actually hit.,” assistant coach Melanie Marcy said. “The girls have been playing together for the last six games, but what it does it bring someone else for the defense to focus on. We have three or four players scoring in double digits, and that’s really nice to have. “
Saturday’s win improved the Archers to 8-10, after a 3-8 start. Their current run began with a win over Arkansas Mid-South on Dec. 15, and the Archers have played some of their best basketball of the season since.
“We were sitting at 3-8, and it was rough,” Marcy said. “We had a six-game losing streak, and we kept telling girls that it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Our last game before break was big, and winning the first game back from break at Kaskaskia was really big. It was a total team effort. :
Saturday’s win is something of a shot across the bow among Region XVI teams, as the STLCC and North Central have established themselves the premier programs in the region over the past five years. The significance of a regional road victory in January was not lost on the Archers’ coaching staff.
“It always seems to come down to them and us, and it’s big to take the first one, Marcy said. “Especially at their place.”