Concordia Hands EOU First CCC Loss
PORTLAND, Ore.— Led by 18 points by freshman Danielle Clauson and 14 by senior Denise Benedict the Concordia University women’s basketball team continued its progression in the conference standings with a 64-62 win over No. 19 ranked against Eastern Oregon on Saturday.
With the win, Concordia moved to 11-9 on the season and 7-3 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference while Eastern Oregon was dealt its first CCC loss to fall to 9-1 in league play and 15-2 overall. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the conference-leading Mountaineers, who were ranked No. 19 in the latest NAIA Division II poll. After a 2-5 start, Concordia has rebounded with nine wins in its last 14 games.
After neither team generated more than a three-point advantage in the first eight minutes of play, Concordia emerged with the game’s first charge with a 13-2 run to give the Cavs a 19-11 lead at the 9:58 mark.
In an immediate response, a 17-6 splurge by EOU reclaimed the Mountaineer lead at 28-25 with just under four minutes remaining in the half. The combatants would exchange buckets the rest of the period with Eastern Oregon holding a 32-32 lead heading into the locker rooms.
Following the break, an Elise Hawes (Madres, Ore./Madres H.S.) jumper and a free throw for a three-point play would extend EOU’s lead to six at the 15:18 mark, but buckets from five different Concordia players helped the Cavs close to within one with the score 49-48 with under nine minutes to play in regulation.
From there Benedict (Ridgefield, Wash./Ridgefield H.S.) would takeover, scoring 11 straight Cavalier points off three threes and a layup in a 2:20 span on the game clock to put the Cavs up 59-55.
A Laura Olson (Moro, Ore./Sherman County H.S.) jumper for the Mountaineers with 42 seconds remaining would close the contest to a one-possession game. Intentionally fouling, EOU would catch a break with the Cavs, clinging to the two-point lead, missing five straight free throws to give them an attempt at stealing a last-minute road win.
Collecting the defensive rebound following a missed free throw, Salena Leavitt (Spokane, Wash./Central Valley H.S.) provided the Mountaineers its final opportunities, but the visitors would leave the gymnasium empty handed after witnessing two jumpers in the final seconds avoid the rim to secure the Concordia win.
“It was back and forth against a quality opponent,” Christian said. “Those are hard games because you have to play so hard for so long. EOU is well coached and they play great as a team, but tonight we were able to match their intensity.”
Clauson (Edmonds, Wash./King’s H.S.) led the game with 18 points while also adding eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Sheena Henderson (Coulee City, Wash./Coulee-Hartline H.S.) collected a team-high 17 points and a game-high nine rebounds in the losing effort.
Concordia returns to action on Tuesday when they host Corban College at 5:30 p.m.
Concordia defeated the Warriors 58-57 in Salem., Ore., in the previous meeting on Jan. 8.