COOS BAY — From her spot on the bench, Joy Ribao couldn’t sit still during the late moments of Saturday’s game between Southwestern Oregon Community College and visiting Portland Community College.

Ribao was on the bench because the Lakers had a big lead, and she jumped up to celebrate every shot or big defensive play made by one of the Southwestern reserves who were finishing off the 78-55 victory.

A year after Ribao and fellow sophomore Kathleen Luce were on a team that went winless in NWAACC play, the Lakers were celebrating their first South Region win of the year, with a strong preseason promising more success in the weeks ahead.

“Me and Kathleen, we just keep asking ourselves, ‘Are we dreaming? Is it real?’” Ribao said, trying to describe the joy that comes with the Lakers playing well.

Southwestern used a balanced team effort and a hot night by Gold Beach graduate Briana Wallace to beat the Panthers and improve to 1-2 in league play heading into Wednesday’s home game against Linn-Benton.

“We had scoring from everyone on the team,” said Wallace. “Everyone stepped up and had confidence to shoot.”

Wallace led the way with a game-high 25 points — one off her season high in a tournament loss to Linn-Benton last month. She made four of her seven 3-point shots and was 9-for-15 overall from the field, and also joined teammates Veronica Rand and Kristine Kosinski with double-digit rebounds in the game.

Portland coach John Lee jokingly took her shooting hand and blew on it, as if to cool it off, while congratulating her on her hot night after the game.

Southwestern coach Stacia Rustad said she looks forward to more games like Saturday’s effort from Wallace.

“She was phenomenal,” Rustad said, though she knew the freshman was capable. “I’ve been riding Wallace since day one of her potential. I’m on her tail every day, ‘Be a leader, shoot the ball. This is your potential. This is what your team needs.’”

Wallace scored eight of Southwestern’s first 10 points Saturday. She had three of her 3-pointers in the second half, each drawing cheers from the home crowd. Her last trey came on her final shot, before she joined most of the other starters on the bench for the final six minutes.

Her shooting seemed to spark the rest of the team. Emma Chitwood, Rachael Richardson and Caitlin Killinger all had 3-pointers in the second half for the Lakers.

“Today we shot the ball well,” said Ribao. “Lately, we’ve been scared to shoot the ball.”

The Lakers also played with a better intensity, she said.

That thrilled Rustad, an intense coach who in one moment will be vocally critical of her players on the court, and in the next congratulating them or celebrating their accomplishments with their vocal teammates on the bench.

During Saturday’s game, the bench was one happy place.

“Isn’t that phenomenal,” Rustad said. “That’s the way it should be — getting pumped up for each other.”

Rustad has encouraged the players to work hard in practice, and then enjoy the fruits of their labor on game day.

“Basketball’s a game, but basketball is also going to teach you about life — enjoying the here and now and enjoying the game,” she said. “I really think they’re grasping on to my philosophy.”

Rustad said Saturday’s result stems from the team’s hard work in practice and continual improvement in games.

Richardson finished with 12 points, while Rachael Matthews had eight and Kosinski seven.

Kristen Lorenzo hit all six of her free throws for six points, and as a team the Lakers were 18-for-22 from the stripe. Southwestern also had a 52-45 rebounding edge and forced 25 turnovers, while giving up the ball 20 times.

Portland stayed with the Lakers for much of the first half before Southwestern used a 17-3 run in the final minutes to open a 36-22 lead. The Lakers held a comfortable advantage throughout the final 20 minutes.

Shardai Ducksworth led the Panthers with 24 points, while Flora Mesa added 12 and Jessie Mansell 11.

The Lakers now will try to turn the momentum into two straight wins when they host the Roadrunners, who suffered their first league loss to Clackamas in another Saturday game.

Rustad is happy that game again will be in front of the home crowd, which was as big as its been for a women’s game in a long time Saturday.

“This campus is pumped up about these ladies and they should be,” she said.

One player who will miss Wednesday’s game is Luce, the sophomore from Powers, who fractured the pinky finger on her shooting hand during the Lakers’ league opener and will be out at least two more weeks.

She has been vocal in practice and games.

“She’s still leading us as one of our captains,” Ribao said.

Her absence is felt on the court, though, Rustad said.

“That hurts us,” she said. “She is our leading scorer. We’ve got to make up for that. Obviously, we did tonight.”

Southwestern 78, Portland 55

PORTLAND (55): Shardai Ducksworth 24, Flora Mesa 12, Jessie Mansell 11, Anne Waibel 5, Cassie Watson 2, Toni Davis Fields 1, Alyson Burger, Shea-Lyn Briggs.

SOUTHWESTERN (78): Briana Wallace 25, Rachael Richardson 12, Rachael Matthews 8, Kristine Kosinski 7, Kristen Lorenzo 6, Emma Chitwood 5, Megan Eng 4, Veronica Rand 4, Caitlin Killinger 3, Jasmine Casey 2, Joy Ribao 2, Kamisha Abram.

Halftime: Southwestern 36, Portland 22.