CCC Women's Hoop Roundup -- Feb. 23
EASTERN OREGON 75, NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN 68
LA GRANDE, Ore. -- The Eastern Oregon University women won a close one against Northwest Christian College 75-68 Saturday night, giving them the regular season Cascade Collegiate Conference title.
The game was close throughout, however, NCC was never able to take the lead at any point in the ballgame.
Tiffanie Ulmer led the Mounties with 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds propelling EOU to the win. McKenie Gambee led the Beacons with 18 points on 9-15 shooting from the field.
This is the fifth consecutive conference title for the Mounties, and sixth in the last seven seasons. The victory improves EOU to 24-4 overall and 17-3 in conference. NCC drops to 14-16 overall and 8-12 in conference.
SOUTHERN OREGON 74, CONCORDIA 53
ASHLAND, Ore. -- The Southern Oregon University Raider Women's basketball team led from start to finish and ended up with a share of the conference championship during a season-ending 74-53 win over the Concordia Cavaliers.
For Coach Lynn Kennedy the win was particularly sweet. He took over a program in shambles three years ago. SOU had won only four games during the 2004-05 season. Tonight's win over Concordia, not only avenged a 68-52 loss to Concordia in January, but gave SOU a sterling 26-4 season record including a 17-3 mark in Cascade Conference action, good enough for a tie with Eastern Oregon.
Concordia completed the regular season 15-15 and 11-9 in league play. Both teams continue the season entering the Cascade Conference tournament next week.
Concordia will play at Oregon Tech, while SOU hosts Northwest Christian Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. Concordia lost to Oregon Tech 58-50 on Friday night.
Tonight's game started slowly with both teams struggling to find their shooting touch. At the 10:09 mark in the first half, a Whitney Scott three-pointer gave SOU a 21-10 lead. With 1:08 to go in the half two free throws by SOU's Ashley Baker gave the Raiders a 38-18 lead. A Lindsey Schleffer jumper at the buzzer made the halftime score 40-21 for SOU.
The second half got interested after a Danielle Clausen jumper cut the Raider lead to nine, 47-38 with 12:26 left in the game. Two Denise Benedict free throw with 7 minutes remaining cut the SOU lead even further to 56-51. Then the Raiders went on a run of their own holding the Cavaliers scoreless over the final 3:48 of the game while building up the lead to 21 at the end.
SOU was led by Senior Chelsey Muri with 19, Jacki Speer had a double double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Whitney Scott contributed 12 points for SOU. The Raiders shot 27-65 for the game or 42%. The Raiders hit 6-17 three pointers.
Concordia was led by Danielle Clauson with 16 points on 8-14 shooting, while Denise Benedict had 15. The Cavaliers shot 40% for the game and were 2-9 in three point range and 5-9 FT shooting.
Senior Chelsey Muri was honored before the game. She will return as an assistanT coach for Lynn Kennedy next season. Right now, howerver, tournament play begins and for the Raiders playing at home is big. They're unbeaten at McNeal Pavilion (12-0). Having lost the tiebreaker to EOU and the automatic NAIA national tournament berth, for SOU to join them, they will have to win the tournament themselves. The journey begins Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
The game will be available on radio, KEZX AM 730 at 7:15 p.m. Live video on the Internet at www.sousposrts.com also live stats on the SOU site. Tickets will be available at the door. No season passes will be valid.
CASCADE 72, EVERGREEN 63
PORTLAND, Ore. - Cascade held off a late charge to earn a 72-63 conference win over Evergreen State on senior night at the Thunderdome.
Raquel Morin hit a jumper at the 10:53 mark in the first half to give Cascade a 14-13 lead, and the T-Birds would not trail again. The visiting Geoducks would trim a 12 point deficit down to four in the closing minutes, but clutch free throw shooting and a timely trey from Kelsey Stone allowed Cascade to hold the Greeners at bay.
Robin Swain placed Cascade with 17 points and 6 assists. Te Awhina Aranui tossed in 16 counters, and Ashley Clark added 7 points and a career high 11 rebounds.
Jennifer Solberg led Evergreen State with 16 points. Kristi Aukland added 13.
Seniors Te Awhina Aranui, Ashley Clark, and Mary Layton were honored at halftime of the men's game for their contrtibutions to the women's program.
Cascade has qualified for the CCC Tournament, and will head to LaGrande to face the #1 seed Eastern Oregon on Tuesday, Feb. 26th at 7:30 pm.
NORTHWEST 82, WARNER PACIFIC 81
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Warner Pacific wrapped up the 2007-08 season Saturday with a down to the wire loss to Northwest University 82-81.
Like the previous nights game the Knights led a majority of the time but not when it counted, at the buzzer. The Knights held the lead the entire second half up until the 1:48 mark when the Eagles hit the first of two free throws, then took a quick lead as the second free throw rimmed off but was put back by an Eagle player giving them a 2 point lead, their first of the half. The Knights tied it up at 81-81 on a basket by Karissa Boyd with 1:22 to go. The Eagles were able to make one free throw to take an 82-81 advantage but the Knights had one last attempt, Karissa Boyd heaved a half court shot that just rimmed out at the buzzer.
The Knights had four players score double figures and were led by Sally Brown who had 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Brown added 7 rebounds for the game. Meghan Ainsworth had 13 points, Lindsey Wells added 12 and Karissa Boyd 11 points and 9 assists.
WPC finishes the season with a 6-23, 4-16 CCC record. Prior to the game the Knights recognized four seniors on the team. They were Sally Brown, Aurora Dillon, Meghan Ainsworth and Lindsey Wells.
OREGON TECH 60, CORBAN 55
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- The Oregon Tech Lady Owls finished off the regular season schedule with a 60-55 win over Corban College on senior night, here at Danny Miles Court. The win improved Tech to 22-8, finishing CCC play with a 14-6 record. Corban finished the regular season out of the playoff picture, falling to 5-15 in CCC action.
Corban kept the score close in the first half, tying the game at 22-22 at the 5:00 mark. Tech pushed the lead to six, but Corban would tie the game at 32 apiece before an Amanda Johnston (Jr. Myrtle Point, OR) 3-pointer found the bottom of the net just before the half, putting Tech up 35-32 going into the locker room.
Corban got their first lead, 36-35 early in the second half and eventually would push the lead to four points at 48-44 with under 10 minutes remaining. Oregon Tech was then able to get to the charity stripe, where a string of free throws gave Tech a 53-48 lead. Corban could get it no closer than five points with Tech winning by the final of 60-55.
Three Owls finished the evening in double figures, led once again by Amanda Johnston with 17 points and six rebounds. Jenni Miiller (Sr. Boise, ID) had another terrific night, dropping in 15 points in the win followed by 11 points from senior Jenna Ball (Scappoose, OR). Meagan Miyasaka (Jr. Honolulu, HI) grabbed a game high nine rebounds and handed out seven assists with Cora McVey (Sr. Dexter, OR) tallying six points and six rebounds.
Jessica Steigleman (Eugene, OR) finished off a brilliant career scoring 16 points and grabbing four rebounds for Corban followed by 12 points and five rebounds from Emily Goette.
Oregon Tech will be going for a record tying 23 wins when they host Concordia University in the first round of the CCC playoffs on Tuesday 2/26. The game will tip at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live in the Klamath Basin on KLAD 92.5 FM and worldwide at www.oitsports.com