The usually unflappable senior got mad.

In what turned out to be a rough and tumble game, Schenk was repeatedly tripped and sent sprawling across the hardwood. A couple of times, she jumped up and actually frowned.

But instead of fighting back with her fists or her mouth, Schenk used quick feet, quick hands and a solid shooting touch that gave her a game-high 16 points.

Schenk also left her coach, Angie Waddell, praising another outstanding performance from her star.

“It’s hard to keep a good attitude when stuff like that happens,” Waddell said. “Kari had a terrific attitude as far as keeping her composure. She didn’t let it take her out of the game one bit. It shows maturity and experience on her part.”

Even if the hard knocks had taken Schenk out of her game, there’s always Sara Pieper to take up the slack.

Despite not playing in the second quarter, the junior matched Schenk with 16 points, adding four assists, four rebounds and four steals.

“Yes, there was a reason she didn’t play in the second quarter,” said Waddell of Pieper, without elaborating. “She knew she didn’t play in the second quarter and she really wanted to get back in there bad. She had a superb performance.”

In fact, it was Pieper who got West off to a quick start, scoring eight points as the Falcons led 13-6 after one.

Schenk heated up in the second period, knocking down two long threes, one on an assist from Kate Goodman.

The game was all but over when Jenny Sloop missed the second of her free throws. Goodman rebounded and turned it into a three-point play and a 29-12 lead.

It was 30-14 at halftime, thanks in part to a Falcon defense that forced 19 turnovers.

“What we wanted was to set the tempo with our press and we accomplished what we wanted,” said Waddell. “But we wanted better passing as far as penetrating the gaps. They were keeping us spread out.”

No problem. Pieper returned in the third period.

After Harding scored the first five points of the game, she drilled a jumper in the lane. She fed Goodman for a three-point play and zipped a pass for Schenk that resulted in a long three that put West up 48-22 going into the fourth.

Goodman impressed her coach more with defense, coming up with five steals.

“I thought Kate played well defensively,” Waddell said.

Pieper scored four of her team’s first six points in the fourth quarter, giving West (3-1, 1-0) its largest lead at 54-24. Waddell allowed the reserves to clean up.

“They need the experience too,” she said. “They were under control and did everything we asked of them.”

If there was one downside, it was the foul situation.

“We play East Rowan, North Rowan and Northwest Cabarrus next week,” Waddell said. “We can’t have that many fouls.”

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NOTES: Schenk missed her first five shots but was still credited for a bucket in the first period. Harding’s Carmen Murray threw a shot into West’s basket and Schenk, being the closest Falcon to her, got credit for the two points. ... Hapless Harding fell to 0-4 and 0-2. ... Harding finished with 37 turnovers. ... Goodman finished with 12 points and five rebounds. ... Shameeka Wansley had six rebounds. ... Ashley Shaver led the reserves with five points. ... Danielle Scearce had four rebounds and two steals.

WESTROWAN (57) — Schenk 16, Pieper 16, Goodman 12, Shaver 5, Wansley 4, Sloop 3, McNelly 2, Honeycutt, Jones, Rabon, Moore, Scearce.

HARDING (32)— Mbanuzue 13, Springs 9, McGill 4, Johnson 2, Massey 2, Ratliffe 1, Hooper 1.

WestRowan 13 17 18 9 — 57