Pesky Geoducks Push Raiders Before Falling
OLYMPIA - Nationally ranked Southern Oregon scored 17 unanswered points during a four-minute stretch late in the fourth period to hold off a challenge from Evergreen, 64-49, in a Cascade Collegiate Conference women's basketball game played Saturday night in Costantino Recreation Center.
The Raiders (19-1 overall, 12-0 CCC), ranked No. 4 in NAIA Division II women's hoops, won their 19th consecutive game and remained unbeaten in the conference by breaking away from a 45-45 tie with 5:27 remaining.
Evergreen took a 28-26 lead into the halftime break after shooting 50 percent from the field and grabbing 29 rebounds to just 11 for the visitors, who last year advanced all the way to the Division II national title game before losing. The Geoducks had committed 19 turnovers and the Raiders shot just 29 percent through the first 20 minutes to keep the score as close as it was.
With the Geoducks trailing 45-40 with seven minutes to play, Kylie Gorton scored five straight points, including a three-pointer from the left corner with 5:27 to play, to knot the score. That's when Southern Oregon took over. Autumn Durand, the conference's leading scorer, started the run with a layup and a three-pointer and she added another basket as the Raiders scored on seven consecutive possessions. On the other end of the floor, Evergreen turned the ball over four times and missed three shots.
Durand scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Raiders, who also got 10 points and six steals from Demi Sahlinger. Other highlights for the Raiders came from Toria Bradford with 14 points, Tiani Bradford with nine points and six steals, and Sydney Mullings with 11 points and four assists.
The Raiders shot just 36 percent from the field, but hit 59 percent of their shots (10-for-17) in the decisive fourth quarter.
Gabi Fenumiai recorded her fifth straight double-double for the Geoducks (4-16, 3-10) with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Gorton ended up with 10 points and five rebounds and Chloee Hunt had nine points, all in the first half, and five boards for the hosts. Zaria Jones led all players with seven assists as the Geoducks had 16 assists on their 18 field goals.
Evergreen shot 42 percent and had 47 rebounds to Southern Oregon's 30, but turned the ball over 36 times resulting in 38 Raiders points.
The Geoducks return to action next Friday when they face Eastern Oregon in La Grande, Ore.