SOU Beats Menlo in OT for 8th Straight Win
ATHLERTON, Calif. -- Five players scored in double figures as the Southern Oregon University women's basketball team ran its winning streak to eight games with a hard fought 95-92 overtime win over the host Menlo Oaks, Sunday afternoon in the Menlo Basketball Classic at Atherton. SOU ended up the only 2-0 team in the tournament.
The Raiders shot 52% for the game from the field as Rhiannon Dickison, Jr, Redding, CA, led SOU in scoring with 15 points on 5-5 from three point range. Jacki Speer, So, Centralia, WA, added 14 points as did Emily Brookins, So. Crater. Chelsey Muri, Sr Monroe, WA contributed 12 points while Whitney Scott, So, Tumwater, WA chipped in 11. SOU is off to its best start since the 2002-03 season.
Coach Lynn Kennedy said after the game, "we played really well tonight against a good team. They were pre-season number 10 pick in the NAIA and we competed well. We shot well, we defended well too despite giving up 92 points."
Menlo was led by Kepua Lee, who scored 39 points for the Oaks on 13-26 fg shooting and 8-12 free throws. Lee was 5-8 from three point range too. SOU led at halftime 45-40, and were still leading by three with seconds to go before Lee was fouled while attempting a three point shot.
Kennedy said, "she promptly went to the line and hit all three and tied the game and sent it to overtime. But we didn't panic and came out and scored quickly, got the lead and actually led by six before they hit a three at buzzer for the final margin."
SOU out rebounded Menlo 40-33 in the game and did three better in the turnover games with 21 compared to Menlo's 24. SOU was 11-16 free throw shooting while Menlo made 18 of 24.
SOU improves its overall record to 11-2 and returns home for a game with Simpson College on Wednesday, January 4 at 7 p.m. at McNeal Pavilion. Conference play resumes this coming weekend with SOU playing at Concordia Friday night and at Corban on Saturday. The Corban games will be carried live on KEZX AM 730 and www.sousports.com
Menlo fell to 7-6 with the loss.