Evergreen Runs All Over Visiting Pacific
Brittany Gray notched her fifth double-double in eight games this season on Friday night, leading the Evergreen Geoducks past the visiting Pacific Boxers, 75-58, in a non-conference women's basketball game played at CRC Gymnasium.
Gray tallied 22 ponts and 11 rebounds as the Geoducks ended a three-game losing streak and improved their season record to 5-3. Pacific, playing away from home for just the second time this season, is now 3-3.
The Geoducks used their superior speed and athleticism to put the Boxers in a big hole in the opening half. Gray, the senior post from Bainbridge Island, poured in 16 of her game-high 22 points and also had seven rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. All seven Evergreen players got on the scoreboard in the opening half and the team shared the ball in impressive fashion with 10 assists on its 18 baskets.
Evergreen, which led 44-27 at the intermission, shot 49 percent in the opening period and turned the ball over just three times, an impressive number given the uptempo game played by the hosts.
After struggling against the Evergreen pressure in the first 20 minutes, the Boxers came out with more intensity in the second half. After Gray scored to give the hosts a 19-point lead, Pacific put together a mini rally and reduced its deficit to 51-40 with about 13 minutes remaining. Evergreen responded with a run of its own and when Natasha Trinidad hit a layup with about 10 1/2 minutes remaining, the host team had its first 20-point lead at 61-41. After that, the game was no longer in doubt.
Joining Gray in double-figure scoring were LaNiecia Weatherspoon with 15 and Sadee Jones with 10. Weatherspoon snagged nine rebounds, and Gray also finished with game-highs of five assists and four steals. The Geoducks finished with 46 percent accuracy (31-for-67) from the field and 80 percent (8-for-10) at the charity stripe. They had 18 assists on their 31 field goals.
Nani Ostrom led the Boxers with 16 points, 12 of them coming in the first half. Olivia Cook added 13 points and a team-best nine rebounds, while Kyla Siri came off the bench to score 12 points. Pacific shot 34 percent (20-for-59) from the field and 83 percent (15-for-18) at the foul line.
Evergreen will play its third NCAA Division III Northwest Conference opponent in four days when it travels up I-5 to Parkland tomorrow to face the Pacific Lutheran Lutes. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. in Olson Auditorium.