Defense, turnovers key in No. 8 CSI women's 'rock fight' win over No. 19 SLCC

Couldn’t let Salt Lake Community College run all over his team and win the turnover battle.

CSI listened, slowed things down and delivered a classic Rogers rock fight as No. 8 CSI outlasted No. 19 Salt Lake Community College, 61-58, on Wednesday night at CSI Gymnasium.

The Golden Eagles secured their fourth straight win and first win in three meetings against the Bruins.

“It was a really big win because we are new here so we learned about the rivalry and we just kinda played with confidence,” sophomore Alina Sapilak told the Times-News. “Played together. Played hard. Big time win for us. We really needed this.”

Sapilak’s 14 points off the bench, including 3-for-6 from deep, electrified the Golden Eagles on a night where the deep ball and just plain scoring appeared to come at a premium.

Sapilak, a Yakima Valley Community College transfer, hollered after every made 3-pointer in celebration and high-fived her teammates, as she knew the advantage it could bring.

“I am just that type of person. I am a very energetic, outgoing person so I know I need to get my team going,” Sapilak said. “So me scoring, hitting the threes and being loud and them being hype with me, that is always my goal.”

Samara Morrow led CSI with 15 points while sophomore guard Kennedy Gillette supported with 10 points.

Oakley graduate Falon Bedke added seven rebounds and six points in her second straight start.

“I think there were times where we a little too sped up but I think in the moments where we needed to slow it down and get good shots, we did,” Morrow told the Times-News.

But everything slowed from the start. Even the shooting.

A brick fest ensued from the start as the teams mustered a combined 0-for-10 effort from the field before Sapilak’s 3-pointer gave CSI a 4-0 lead with 7:07 left in the game.

Bedke’s free throw marked the game’s first point.

Salt Lake Community College’s bigs clogged the lanes and forced CSI to look beyond the arc.

CSI centers Bedke and Ashley Garner hit roadblocks while others couldn’t maneuver around to produce a clean look.

It found the answer with sophomore Sapilak, who started the game 3-for-4 from deep, and gifted CSI an 18-15 lead with 6:06 left in the first half.

CSI carried a 24-20 advantage into halftime, though the stat sheet didn’t reveal many advantages. Each squad clung to a 25.9% field goal clip and Sapilak’s 3-pointers were CSI’s only scoring source from deep.

CSI overcame a third quarter where SLCC went on a 10-0 run and enjoyed an eight-point lead.

But defense, Rogers’ calling card, came in clutch as CSI forced 25 turnovers — eight more than SLCC’s average.

CSI, meanwhile, committed 18 turnovers. SLCC’s defense averages 22 turnovers a game.

The game included 44 personal fouls.

CSI (14-3 overall, 2-0 Scenic West Athletic Conference) will host Colorado Northwestern Community College at 1 p.m. Saturday.

“I like rock fights,” Rogers told the Times-News. “I like it. I thought the referees did a great job tonight. I thought they let us play a little bit and then when things got too physical they would call it. We are fortunate. All we did really is take care of home court. Which is what you try to do. If you are trying to win the conference, you can’t lose those home games.”