Back and Fort Battle Goes EOU's Way
LA GRANDE, Ore. - In a see-saw battle Friday night at La Grande's Quinn Coliseum, Eastern Oregon (4-0) prevailed in overtime, 80-78. This game featured 15 lead changes and seven ties. Eastern Oregon's Breana Olson led all scorers with 27 points.
A great finish featured Southern Oregon's Chelsey Muri hitting a shot just inside the three-point line with five seconds remaining to put SOU up 74-72. EOU then got the ball across half-court and called timeout, and set-up a great play to end regulation. An inbound pass underneath the basket to Tiffanie Ulmer for the game-tying points with 0.7 seconds left.
Sheena Henderson had another double-double for the Mountaineers with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Ulmer added 15 points with eight rebounds and Laura Olsen had nine points and seven assists for EOU.
An overtime highlighted by defense featured only four total made baskets from the field, and Eastern Oregon making two of their four free throws.
It wasn't one of the prettier games of the season, both teams combined for 51 turnovers. The in-state rivals also shot a combined 41 percent from the field.
It was the Cascade Conference opener for both schools. The EOU women entered the game as defending regular season CCC champions and in the receiving votes column in the current NAIA division two poll.
Southern Oregon was led by Murray with 17 points. Jackie Speer added 14 for the visiting Raiders (3-2). Kellyn Cooper also had 12 points, while Whitney Scott and Ashley Baker both had ten points respectively.
Eastern Oregon will continue play Saturday night in La Grande against the Oregon Tech Hustlin' Owls. Oregon Tech (4-1) fell at the College of Idaho Friday night, 74-66.