EUGENE - Blair Oaks was looking for a quick turnaround after dropping its season opener last week.
That's just what the Lady Falcons got.
Blair Oaks used a balanced scoring attack and an aggressive press defense to earn a decisive 58-22 win Monday against Calvary Lutheran in its first round-robin game at the Eugene Invitational.
"It gives us excitement about the season and the next games to follow," Blair Oaks' Carli Buschjost said. "It gives us a lot more confidence to put the ball in the hoop. Everyone on the team scored and everyone has more confidence now."
Blair Oaks' Chelsi Emerson scored a game-high 11 points and added seven steals, while Buschjost added 10 points - all in the second quarter.
Macyn Wibers finished with nine points, while Lauren Viessman chipped in with eight points and a game-high 8 steals to help lead the attack for the Lady Falcons (1-1).
"Coach wanted us to move the ball around," Emerson said. "We were trying to get everyone involved so it's not just one or two scorers. It makes us tougher to guard."
Blair Oaks was 24-of-54 (44 percent) from the field - 18-of-32 (56 percent) in the first half - and recorded 21 steals while bouncing back from a loss to Helias in its opener.
"We were putting the ball in the hole a little better than we did the other night," Blair Oaks head coach Leroy Bernskoetter said. "The press got us going and then we had some girls start making some shots. It was a lot better."
The Lady Lions (0-2) were 8-of-29 (29 percent) from the field and committed 32 turnovers in the contest. Much of Blair Oaks' success on the defensive end was a result of the Lady Falcons' full-court press, which gave Calvary fits throughout.
"I said at the beginning of the season, we're going to struggle with the press, and we did," Calvary head coach Jonathan Kueck said. "(Blair Oaks) was just all over it with that trap press, not allowing our girls to see downcourt. They were more aggressive to the ball, they were quick to the ball."
Calvary sophomore Rebecca Thompson scored eight points and freshman Maci Steen added seven to lead the Lady Lions, who lost three starters from last year's team.
Seeing an aggressive press early in the season wasn't exactly a bad thing for Calvary, according to Kueck.
"If we play against teams that don't press, that's not going to prepare us for districts or for games down the road," he said. "This game just gets us ready."
Blair Oaks claimed a slim 28-27 rebounding advantage, but the Lady Falcons used a 14-6 edge on the offensive glass to help pull away from Calvary early.
Blair Oaks led 17-6 and forced 11 turnovers in the first quarter before outscoring the Lady Lions 24-5 in the second period to take a 30-point lead entering the break.
"I thought we moved the ball together, and I thought we did a good job rebounding - getting the offensive boards and going up strong," Buschjost said. "We did a really good job executing in all areas today."
Blair Oaks, which started three sophomores and two seniors, extended its lead to 55-17 after the third quarter and the Lady Falcons didn't look back from there.
"We have some younger players and they need this experience," Bernskoetter said. "This was a good game to get them going. That will make us better as we get farther into the season."
Blair Oaks will look to build off its win when the Lady Falcons take on Russellville at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in tournament play.
Meanwhile, Calvary will try to get back on the right track when the Lady Lions face Russellville at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
"We've got to shoot and we've got to get the ball across halfcourt," Kueck said. "We can't give away the ball 75 feet away from the basket and expect to win."