The wait seemed like an eternity for Alexa Smith.

Academic reasons forced the senior to the bench for Issaquah’s first three games. Then heavy snow came, postponing the Eagles’ next two contests.

The 6-foot forward finally got to take to the floor Monday, however, and she relished in her first opportunity. Smith scored 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, grabbed five rebounds and had a team-high four steals, helping Issaquah defeat Monroe 50-35 in the first round of the Bellevue Community College Christmas Classic. It was Issaquah’s first game since a Dec. 13 victory over Lakeside.

“For me, it’s been twice as long,” Smith said, noting it had been nearly three months since she played a competitive game of basketball. “I had a lot of energy, I was ready to go. I felt really good and I’m just really glad to be out there playing with my girls. It’s been hard to watch.”

Smith scored seven of her points in a crucial third quarter — a frame where the Eagles were a perfect 9-for-9 from the floor. All of Issaquah’s third-quarter points came within 5 feet of the hoop — something head coach Kathy Gibson stressed in the locker room at halftime.

“We weren’t pleased with the first half at all,” she said. “We talked about that we were settling for things, in particular outside shots.”

Senior guard Erin Nicol contributed to the aggressive assault on the hoop, scoring 12 of her team-high 16 points in the second half. She was 6-for-8 from the free throw line and scored the Eagles’ final seven points.

“She’s doing exactly what we need her to,” Gibson said.

Issaquah jumped out to a fast start behind its defensive pressure. The Eagles forced the Bearcats into 16 of their 27 turnovers in the first half.

“Defense won this game for us,” Smith said.

Issaquah led by as many as nine points in the first half, 15-6, but Monroe inched its way back in the contest. The Bearcats closed the second quarter out on a 7-4 run, bringing the halftime score to 19-13.

The Eagles’ third-quarter explosion, however, gave them a 40-25 lead at the end of the third quarter. Monroe closed the gap to 11 midway through the fourth quarter, but Issaquah built the lead back up to 18 with just over a minute to go.

Monday’s victory moved the Eagles to 4-0 overall. The win also advanced them into the tournament championship Tuesday afternoon against Kennedy. Results occurred after the Reporter’s early holiday deadline. For a wrap up of the championship game look in the Jan. 9 edition.

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