Weatherspoon and Jones Go 21-12, Geoducks Go 6-3
PARKLAND - Playing their third game in the last four nights on Saturday evening, the Evergreen Geoducks played fast and harried the host Pacific Lutheran Lutes in taking an 80-53 non-conference women's basketball victory at Olson Auditorium.
Evergreen is now 6-3 for the season while Pacific Lutheran sees its record drop to 3-5.
The Geoducks opened up an early 11-2 lead with Sadee Jones draining a three-point shot from the left wing to highlight the spurt. After a couple of baskets by the Lutes, the Geoducks regained control by scoring the next 12 points, six by LaNiecia Weatherspoon. The Geoducks took a double-digit lead at 16-6 about six minutes into the game and never again led by less than 10 points.
Evergreen dominated the opening half in every category and took a 46-24 lead at the intermission. They shot shot 63 percent (12-for-19) from the field, including 3-for-6 from three-point range, and knocked down 19 of their 20 free throws in the half. They also controlled the rebounds, 24-12, including six from Brittany Gray and five from Weatherspoon.
The outcome was never in doubt in the second half as the Geoducks maintained a lead of at least 20 points throughout. They took their largest lead of the game at 79-49 on a crossover move and layup by Weatherspoon with 1:45 remaining.
After an impressive opening half, the Geoducks struggled from the field in the final 20 minutes, shooting just 33 percent (10-for-30). They also committed 25 turnovers for the entire game.
"I think mentally we got a little tired," Evergreen head coach Jennifer Schooler said, adding that the team lost a bit of its mental focus after building the big early lead. "At the same time I don't want want to take anything away from what they've done because scoring 80 points is scoring 80 points, so we did a lot of great things."
In the end, the team made 45 percent of its shots from the field and an impressive 85 percent (33-for-39) from the foul line.
Weatherspoon and Jones both finished the game with 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead Evergreen, while Randi Boseman and Gray chipped in 14 apiece. Gray ended the game one rebound short of a double-double and Boseman added four assists and four steals.
Bailey Raines came off of the bench to score 12 points for Pacific Lutheran.
With its non-conference season in the rear view mirror, the Geoducks turn their focus back to Cascade Collegiate Conference action. They host the Corban Warriors at 5:30 p.m. next Friday and Northwest Christian at 3 p.m. next Saturday in CRC Gymnasium.