Hi, Lincoln Trail ladies, why not get a first-hand look at a nationally ranked team.

The Lady Statesmen played host to the Three Rivers Lady Raiders, who discovered they were back in the NJCAA polls on Monday entering at No. 25 and were immediately introduced to elite-level basketball in a 104-29 thumping by their guests from Poplar Bluff.

Three Rivers (3-0) were led by Maiya Bergdorf (19 points), Ari Winston (15 points), Niaisya Ervin (11 points) and Jenna McMillen (12 points, 10 assists) who catapulted the squad to the big win which saw every player on the bench score at least five points.

The Lady Raiders held their hosts to 0 percent from the three-point line and 25 percent from the field overall and forced Lincoln Trail into 40 turnovers, scoring 60 points off of the Lady Statesmen's miscues.

"I honestly thought we started off a little flat and I think we were a little tired from playing back-to-back games, practice yesterday and a road trip today," Three Rivers head coach Alex Wiggs said. "We played very good defensively and did a good job offensively. We had 44 points at halftime, but we started a little slow offensively.

"The second half we played really, really well. We moved the ball really well (they finished with 27 assists)."

The win is the first in a hoped-for sweep of three straight road games. The next is 2 p.m. Friday in Vincennes, Indiana when they play the Campbellsville JV.

Alan Dale - Daily American Republic