Knights Keep Pace, Defeat Evergreen 75-60
BOX SCORE
PORTLAND, Ore. – Behind 18 points from both Kelsey Mattsen and Cameryn Calhoun, Warner Pacific eased past Evergreen 75-60 tonight in Cascade Conference action at Bart Valentine Court.
The host Knights (11-7, 5-2 CCC) keep pace in the CCC standings, and sit just ½ game back from leaders Oregon Tech and College of Idaho. Evergreen falls to 4-12 and 2-5 CCC with the loss.
Warner Pacific led from start finish and led by as many 16 points but each time the Knights looked to run away with the game, the visiting Geoducks hung around with gritty play. With the score at 15-10 early in the first half, WP went on a 10-2 run capped by a Calhoun basket to go up 25-12. Sami Clark hit a big three pointer at that point for Evergreen to stem the tide. Later, a trey from Chelsey Christensen again put the Knights up 13 points (30-17), but Evergreen managed to cut the deficit to 33-24 at the halftime buzzer.
After the break, Evergreen scored the first five points to close within 33-29, but that was as close as they would get. Warner Pacific responded with an 8-0 burst thanks to a pair of baskets from Mattsen and Christensen to stretch their lead to double digits. Evergreen made one last surge, drawing with 53-45 on a Clark layup with 5:56 to play. Seven straight points including a pair of makes from distance by Calhoun made the score 60-45 in favor of Warner Pacific and the Knights cruised to the win.
Mattsen just missed a double-double for WP, adding nine rebounds to her 18 points. Christensen finished with 12 points and four rebounds, while Nichole Jackson dished seven assists.
Clark led Evergreen with 14 points, while Danielle Swain worked inside for 10 points and 10 rebounds.