WEED – It seems like every season another College of the Siskiyous Lady Eagles record is broken. The single game scoring record fell last season and the one before. On Saturday night, the single game 3-point record for an individual was broken by Dijana Topalovic, during a 113-86 rout of the Lassen College Lady Cougars (5-14, 0-3).

Topalovic’s run to the record, and the beginning of a COS’ score fest, began with one of the rarer plays in basketball—a 4-point play. The Lady Eagles were leading 9-6, when Topalovic nailed a 3-ball and was fouled. She converted the freebie to complete the 4-point play and extend COS’ lead to 13-6. It was just a preview of what was to come.

In addition to being the first of her record ten 3-pointers, Topalovic’s trey also started a 23-4 run for the Lady Eagles. Next in the run, Michelle Hoehn dished to Alanna Stevens for a hoop, 15-6. After Lassen scored, Amber Franco put back a rebound, 17-8. Lassen made it 17-10. Then, Natalie Smith hit from behind the arc, 20-10. Cassidy Hammon hit a 3-ball, 23-10. Topolovic hit her second trey, 26-10. Franco connected from downtown, 29-10. Hammon hit COS’ fifth straight 3-pointer, 32-10.

While Hammon’s was last points in the run, it was far from the last points the Lady Eagles would score in the first half. There was still 10 minutes left in the opening stanza. By halftime, COS had put up 68 points to Lassen’s 41. The Eagles dropped sixteen 3-balls in the first half, eight by Topalovic. COS would go on to hit a total of 21 treys in the game.

By the start of the second half, nearly everyone in the gym knew that the 3-point record was close to being broken, including Topalovic.

“Everyone kept telling me,” she said after the game.

Topalovic entered the game a few minutes into the second half. With the outcome of the game not in doubt, fans yelled “shoot” every time Topolovic touched the ball—even in the back court. After several minutes, she had hit nothing but rim on 3-point attempts, and Coach Tom Powers gave her a rest.

Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles continued to dominate, passing the 100-point mark with several minutes left to play. With around four minutes to go, Topalovic got another chance at history.

This time, she connected from beyond the arc twice. Number nine tied the record previously held by Kristi Arness (2008) and Halley Wells (2004). Number ten made the record all Topalovic’s—much to the delight of COS fans and her teammates. Sometimes a second chance is all that’s needed.

“I think I was trying too hard the first time. When he (Powers) put me in the second time, I just played my game,” said Topalovic.

Topalovic also mentioned that her roommate last season was Crissy Watts, who holds the single game scoring record (47) and consecutive made free throws record (22).

Topalovic finished the game with 35 points to lead COS. Amber Franco also lit it up from the land of three, with five treys and 17 points. Dominque Quitoriano put up 16 points. Natalie Smith scored 14, and Cassidy Hammon had 12 points.

COS (14-6, 4-1) is tied for first with Shasta (16-6, 4-1) in the Golden Valley Conference. COS goes to third place Butte (13-5, 2-1) on Wednesday, February 3.