ST. IGNATIUS - The strides the Mission Lady Bulldogs continue to

make suggest that they'll capture their first win sooner rather

than later. Unfortunately, two tough matchups last week left them

still searching for that elusive win.

ST. IGNATIUS - The strides the Mission Lady Bulldogs continue to make suggest that they'll capture their first win sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, two tough matchups last week left them still searching for that elusive win.

On Tuesday, Jan. 3, the Lady Bulldogs hosted Bigfork and kept them within single digits until the fourth quarter before Bigfork escaped with the 50-36 victory. Stephanie Lewandowski led her team with nine points, while Bryanna Steele contributed eight and Loren Erickson six in the defeat.

Head coach Les Rice said there was a lot to like about the Bigfork game, even in defeat, with his team controlling the game at certain points.

"We played better in the second half, but we didn't have a good fourth quarter," Rice said. "We shot the ball better, especially in the third. We came out and played well at the beginning of the game. It was a game of streaks."

The Lady Bulldogs looked strong early on, trailing just 12-8 after the first, but Bigfork used a 13-6 spurt in the second to hold a 25-14 halftime lead. Mission battled back with a big third quarter, nearly doubling their point output from the first half, to trail just 35-27 heading to the fourth, but Bigfork pulled away late to seal the win.

Sophia Woodcock added six points, while Cecelia Koskela and Katrina Stevens each scored three and Twyala Hogge two for the Lady Bulldogs.

On Saturday, Jan. 7, Mission got 11 points from Lewandowski and eight from Koskela, but fell at home to Loyola 54-30. The game was neck and neck in the first half, as the Lady Bulldogs trailed just 22-20 at halftime. In the third quarter, however, Loyola pulled away thanks to a relentless press that forced several turnovers. Loyola outscored Mission 14-2 over that eight-minute stretch and added 18 more points in the fourth to seal the deal.

"We played with them for the first half," Rice said. "In the third quarter, we didn't handle the pressure well, which gave them opportunities."

Stevens added three points for the Lady Bulldogs, but was a rebounding force, coming down with seemingly every one of Loyola's misses.

"I thought Katrina rebounded it well, especially on the weak side," Rice said. "I wish she would have been more aggressive offensively, but defensively she did well."

Woodcock also scored three for Mission, while Erickson and Steele each notched two and Hogge one in the defeat. The Lady Bulldogs travelled to Ronan on Tuesday, but results were unavailable at press time. Mission also hosts Troy on Saturday.

Rice's team is continuing to improve and if they can limit their turnovers, will turn their fortunes around.

"If we eliminate turnovers, it'll improve our scoring chances," Rice said.

BIGFORK @ MISSION

Bigfork - 12 - 13 - 10 - 15 - 50

Mission - 8 - 6 - 13 - 9 - 36

Pirates scoring - Loren Erickson 6, Sophia Woodcock 5, Stephanie Lewandowski 9, Bryanna Steele 8, Cecilia Koskela 3, Katrina Stevens 3, Twyala Hogge 2

LOYOLA @ MISSION

Loyola - 14 - 8 - 14 - 18 - 54

Mission - 9 - 11 - 2 - 8 - 30

Lady Bulldogs scoring - Loren Erickson 2, Sophia Woodcock 3, Steph Lewandowski 11, Bryanna Steele 2, Cecelia Koskela 8, Katrina Stevens 3, Twyala Hogge 1