After cutting their opponents’ lead in half in the third quarter, the Lady Raiders still accepted a 68-39 defeat in White Swan Friday.

Lake Roosevelt was down by 24 at the half, but came back hard in the third quarter to cut the Cougar lead to 12. But after the start of the fourth quarter, “We swapped baskets and then, after two possessions, they took off, and the air went out of our sails,” Head Coach Wallace Pleasants said.

“We did not transition to defense well and had trouble fighting through and setting screens,” Pleasants said. “All of that needs to improve this week against Manson and Kittitas.”

The bright spots for the Lady Raiders came under the basket, where Katelynn Schilling and Danielle Laramie fought hard against two 6-foot players and came away with rebounds and points. Pleasants said he was pleased with the way both girls were able to block out and play just as physically as their opponents.

Schilling lead the team with nine points and 11 rebounds. Laramie grabbed eight rebounds.

Pleasants also said the Lady Raiders did run a successful press break against the Cougars.

Last night the Lady Raiders looked to rebound from the loss against a Manson team who lost to the very same White Swan squad 68-28 last Saturday.

On Friday the Lady Raiders host the Kittitas Coyotes for the home opener of Central Washington 2B play, starting at 6 p.m. at Gailord Nelson Gym. The Coyotes are 3-3 and are 0-1 in CW 2B play.