SOU Sets Up Showdown with EOU by Beating C of I
ASHLAND, Ore. -- Southern Oregon University Women's basketball team came into tonight's game tied with College of Idaho with identical 10-2 conference records. When the horn sounded to end the game, it was SOU that came out the winner by an 84-63 score against the College of Idaho Coyotes at McNeal Pavilion.
With the victory, SOU moves into sole position of second place in the Cascade Conference and faces league leading Eastern Oregon Saturday night at McNeal Pavilion where SOU is unbeaten this season. Eastern beat Oregon Tech, Friday night in Klamath Falls, 56-50. An SOU victory over Easter tomorrow night would put the two teams in a first place tie with seven games to go.
Against the Coyotes, SOU led 44-34 by halftime and increased the lead to 69-49 before ending the game up 84-63. SOU was led by Whitney Scott who scored 19 points including 3 from behind the thiree-point line. Jacki Speer had a terrific night with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Also in double figures was Chelsey Muri who had 11 points. All 11 Raider players scored in the game. The team averages 84 points a game for the season.
College of Idaho pressed hard most of the night forcing SOU in 25 turnovers and 42% shooting from the field. But SOU's defense proved the difference in holding the Coyotes to 1-20 from three point range and forcing 20 turnovers.
The Raiders held high scoring Whitney Clark and Christon Vander Esch to 14 points each on a combin 9-32 shooting from the field. ShaNae Horner scored 9 points for the Coyotes who fell to 10-3 in league play heads to Klamath Falls for a date with Oregon Tech on Saturday night.
College of Idaho remains two games up over Oregon Tech entering play Saturday night. C of I beat OIT in Caldwell on December 1.
Eastern and Southern played November 30, 2007 in La Grande in a 80-78 overtime win for the Mountaineers. Tomorrow's winner takes a giant step toward Sioux City and the NAIA National Tournament with a win.