Fenumiai Pours in School-Record 36 Points as Evergreen Rolls
The Evergreen State College set team single-game scoring and assist records and Gabi Fenumiai tallied a program-record 36 points as the Geoducks defeated Walla Walla, 98-41, in a Cascade Collegiate Conference women's basketball game played Sunday afternoon in CRC Gymasium.
Fenumiai, a junior post from Juneau, Alaska, by way of Peninsula College, led the record assault by scoring her point total on 15-for-21 shooting from the field and 6-for-8 accuracy at the foul line. Most all of her baskets came on layups following entry passes from teammates as the Geoducks (3-13 overall, 3-8 CCC) took advantage of Walla Walla foul trouble and a height mismatch.
The record for most points came in a 93-21 victory over Walla Walla one season ago, and the team's 32 assists shattered the old mark of 29 set in that same game.
"Today showed off how special this team can be, the way they looked for each other and how much more fluid we are becoming in our offense," Evergreen head coach Jen Schooler said. "Gabi just did what she has been doing all year long and we got her the ball."
Of Evergreen's 32 assists, 11 came from Lacey Morris and eight from Uriah Thomas. Morris' 11 assists are tied for fifth on the Evergreen single-game assist list. Thomas, meanwhile, came within two assists of Evergreen's first-ever triple double as she contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds to the winning effort. Fenumiai led all players with 12 rebounds.
Fenumiai scored half of her point total in the opening 20 minutes, helping the Geoducks build a healthy 53-26 lead. She started the scoring with the first basket and Walla Walla's Lauren Pernu answered at the other end for a 2-2 deadlock. It stayed that way briefly, and once Autumn Moorcroft hit a layup about two minutes in, the Geoducks held the lead the rest of the way.
The Geoducks shot 58 percent in the first half and 54 percent in the second to finish at 56 percent (43-for-77) overall. Walla Walla, meanwhile, shot 35 percent from the field and committed 28 turnovers.
Thomas was 11-for-13 from the field, hitting a variety of inside baskets, mid-range jumpers and even a three-pointer. Moorcroft added 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting as Evergreen's three front court starters combined for 76 points on 33-for-45 shooting from the field.
Pernu had a strong game for the Wolves with 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The Geoducks hit the road for their next two conference matches, playing Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls on Saturday and Southern Oregon in Ashland on Sunday.