HELENA, Mont. -- Hannah Dean scored 21 points and the No. 8 Fighting Saints upped their scoring output each quarter to pull out a 61-56 win over No. 18 Lewis-Clark State on Thursday night in the PE Center. 

"It was a big win for us tonight," Saints coach Rachelle Sayers said. "It wasn't a work of beauty but we will take it." 

In a sluggish game, it was the Saints turning the Warriors over 24 times that proved to be a godsend. Carroll shot 37 percent from the field and 21 percent from the three-point line on a night where it was difficult to find rhythm. Only Emma Madsen (3-for-4), Sienna Swannack (1-for-1) and Dean (7-for-13) shot better than 50 percent from the field. 

"We made a lot of mental errors that we can't afford to make, but right now we need to take that win and run," Sayers said. "Our focus is on getting into a better offensive flow. We need more points on the board." 

The game started rough and slowly smoothed out. Carroll and Lewis-Clark State combined for 16 turnovers in the first quarter, which ended in a 10-10 stalemate. Carroll picked up its scoring throughout, holding a 24-20 lead at halftime. The Saints outscored LCSC each quarter, save the final period that favored the Warriors 21-19. 

"The kids are playing hard," Sayers said. "They are working their tails off on the defensive end, but we have to be more solid offensively," Sayers said. "Give LC credit, their length and physical play made things really hard for us tonight. Hannah came up big when we needed her most. We will need a big time effort from everybody on Saturday." 

Christine Denny also added 12 points for Carroll as the only other Saint in double figures scoring. Nine Saints played while eight scored on Thursday. 

Three Warriors finished with 10 points: Hailey Turner, Abbie Johnson and Jossilyn Blackman. 

Carroll is now 2-0 against the Warriors this season. Carroll previously defeated LCSC 60-53 in Lewiston. 

The win keeps the Saints a game back of No. 3 Montana Western (17-1, 8-1), which visits the PE Center on Saturday night for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.