RENO - The Lady Senators dialed long distance in their Sierra League opener, and the player at the other end of the line - junior guard Christa Casci - answered in a big way.
Casci hit six 3-pointers - including four in the decisive fourth quarter - and scored a game-high 20 points as the Senators defeated Damonte Ranch, 54-41, Friday at Damonte Ranch High School.
The victory improved Carson's overall record to 12-3, while dropping the Lady Mustangs to 1-2, 5-11.
"They were just falling today," Casci, a shortstop/pitcher for the Senators softball team, said of her treys. "We got a good warm-up in - that was part of it. We have a good team. We had to step it up in the second half and we did. We were trying to do what works."
Carson coach Ric Garcia said he had several thoughts run through his mind at once when Casci launched her 3-pointers.
"A couple of times I said, 'Yeah, no, good shot," Garcia said with a smile. "When you have someone like that on, you have to get them the ball. She had good looks and had no one in her face.
"She can get it going. We knew that from last year (in junior varsity) and in practice. This was the first game she was able to let it loose."
Carson, which also got 18 points, eight rebounds and five blocks from 6-foot freshman center Danielle Peacon, outscored Damonte Ranch 22-14 in the final quarter to put the game away.
"In the fourth quarter, we just ended up falling apart," Damonte coach Debby Hellen said. "We couldn't put the ball in the basket when we needed to. Casci had four 3-pointers in the quarter. We didn't have the right defensive coverage."
The Mustangs did get a strong game from senior forward Colleen Carlson, a standout volleyball player for Damonte Ranch. Carlson notched a triple-double, with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 13 blocks.
Courtney Kollasch also chipped in with 14 points for the Mustangs, who held the lead only once at 2-0, but who trailed 11-9 at the end of the first quarter when Scharae Steel hit a shot at the buzzer.
Asked to assess his team's performance, Garcia was succinct.
"Sloppy," he said before expounding. "We didn't have a very good practice yesterday. I think it carried over into the game. I think the kids underestimated Damonte Ranch. Damonte played harder than we did. Carlson has improved a whole lot since we saw her last at the North Valleys Tournament."
The Senators started off the game going to the post, where Peacon set up shop early, scoring the Senators' first six points. But that strategy changed in the second quarter.
"We were having a hard time with (Damonte's) zone," Garcia said of the Mustangs' defense. "We weren't getting into the high-low. We were showing them the high point too soon and were running into people. We weren't smooth. We couldn't get it in to (Peacon) and when we'd try to, we'd have a turnover."
Carson answered with its own stiff defense, holding the Mustangs to nine points for each of the first three quarters for a 23-18 halftime lead and a 32-27 lead after the third period.
"Press-wise we tried to get through the whole game tonight," Garcia said of the Senators' aggressive defense. "We went to man-press when we went to our half-court (offense). We finished with a 2-3. The whole night we allowed penetration. We had a hard time stopping them. They were spreading it out."
But two can play at that game and the Senators ended up turning the tables on the Mustangs.
"I felt we could stay with them, and we did when we went to the 2-3," Garcia said. "Offensively we were able to spread the court. We did to them what they did to us."
And several other Senators contributed in different ways. Although she was held scoreless, 5-foot-3 senior guard Megan Kilty had six rebounds and four assists.
Senior guard Kaitlin Burroughs had four points and added four steals. Freshman guard Gina Bianchi also chipped in six points, all of which left Casci with a warm feeling.
"It's good to start off with a solid win," Casci said. "It gives us a little confidence going into the next couple of games."
Next up for Carson is a visit to Wooster High School on Friday. The Senators-Colts game begins at 5:15 p.m.