LEWISTON, Idaho – In the final game of the LC State Classic, the Eastern Oregon University defeated No. 13 Lewis-Clark State, 62-50. EOU held the Warriors to 32 percent shooting from the floor and the fewest points they have scored in a game on the season.
Maloree Moss led the Mountaineers (10-3) with 11 points on four-of-seven shooting.
Airashay Rogers and
Maya Ah You added nine points, apiece, in EOU's fourth consecutive win. Tanis Fuller scored a game-high 19 points for the Warriors (12-2).
In the first half of the contest, EOU and Lewis-Clark State were locked in a close game, as there were six ties and four lead changes in the first 20 minutes. With EOU ahead, 8-7, the Warriors scored the next five points taking a 12-8 lead with just over 13 minutes to go in the half.
Eastern Oregon continued to chip away at the lead, and after a Moss jumper in the paint, EOU tied the game at, 14-14, for the third time in the half. Lewis-Clark State rebounded by extending the lead back to three points, 17-14. Eastern Oregon responded by going on a 7-0 run, capped off by a
Kassy Larson field goal, giving EOU their biggest lead in the first half, 21-17.
The Warriors responded and battled back tying the game, for the fourth time, 22-22, after a McKenzie Heaslet's pair of free throws. EOU and Lewis-Clark exchanged leads before a pair of free throws by
Nikki Osborne tied the game at 26-26, going into halftime.
Lewis-Clark State came out of halftime and scored the first six points of the second half, taking a six point lead, 32-26, after a Caelyn Orlandi fast break layup. EOU responded quickly and went on a 10-0 run, putting EOU ahead, 36-32, after an Ah You layup. During the run, the Mountaineers kept the Warriors scoreless for a six minute span.
With the game tied at 38-38, with 10 minutes to go, Eastern Oregon slowly started to pull away. Moss put the Mountaineers ahead, 40-38, a lead EOU did not give up for the remainder of the game. EOU slowly started to extend their lead and grew it to double-figures, 53-43, after an Ah You three-pointer.
Eastern Oregon extended their lead to as many as 15 points in the second half and EOU defeated NAIA Division I Lewis-Clark State, 62-50.
Eastern Oregon returns to action on Friday, Dec. 19 when they travel to Ashland, Ore. to face Southern Oregon University. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.