Al Case, Ashland Daily Photo.
Raiders overcome 19-point deficit with second-half spurt at UC Merced
SOU Sports Information
MERCED, Calif. – The Southern Oregon women's basketball team overcame a 19-point halftime deficit Sunday night and Ashley Claussen made the go-ahead free throws with 18 seconds to go in a 76-73 win at California Merced.
Scrapping shorthanded without the likes of injured Cascade Conference preseason player of the year Carly Meister, the Raiders (2-0) leaned on Claussen's 24 points and eight assists and Courtney Setzer's 16 points and 11 boards. The latter has registered double-doubles in her first two collegiate games.
They trailed 44-25 after the first two quarters, but staged the comeback with 21 unanswered points. The last of those, scored on a Tiani Bradford jumper, gave SOU its first lead at 57-55 with nine minutes to play.
The lead changed hands seven more times after that. Autumn Durand's 3-pointer put the Raiders up 70-69 with 2:06 left, but Courtney Danna responded with a jumper.
Finally, with the Raiders trailing 73-72, Toria Bradford stole the ball with 24 seconds to play, and moments later Claussen was fouled and converted both free-throw attempts. After a Merced miss, Courtney Setzer made two more free throw, and another Bradford steal sealed the win.
Tiani Bradford contributed 13 points and seven rebounds for the Raiders, who went 23-for-28 at the line and forced 22 turnovers. Durand added eight points.
Danna led the Bobcats, going for 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting, and Shelby Howard had 19.
SOU is back in action in an exhibition game Friday at Boise State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Mountain Time.