Big Comeback Nets Geoducks 56-51 Victory
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Evergreen State College, down 13-0 after 4 1/2 minutes, rallied back Friday night for a 56-51 Cascade Collegiate Conference women's basketball win over the host Warner Pacific Knights at Bart Valentine Court.
The Geoducks (7-19 overall, 6-13 CCC) won for only the second time on the road this season, but more important to them would be a third victory away from home when they play tomorrow night against the Multnomah Lions. The winner of that contest will earn the eighth-and-final berth in the conference postseason tournament.
It took one half for Evergreen to get untracked in tonight's game, and the focus of that second half comeback was
Gabi Fenumiai.
The team's leading scorer was held without a point through the first 20 minutes before finishing the contest with 16 points and 16 rebounds. She scored seven of those points at the free throw line, including two that gave the Geoducks the lead for good at 53-51 with 53 seconds remaining.
Zaria Jones iced the game at the foul line in the final 20 seconds, knocking down three of her four attempts after Warner Pacific misses from three-point range.
The host Knights scored the game's first 13 points as Evergreen turned the ball over six times and missed six shots in those opening 4 1/2 minutes. After that, the Geoducks started to creep back into the game before heading into the locker room trailing at the half, 28-19.
Fenumiai, who notched nine of her points in the third quarter, scored a basket to give the visitors their first lead of the game, 42-41, about 30 seconds into the final period. Six lead changes and one tie ensued before Fenumiai's free throws inside the final minute put the Geoducks on top for good.
Joining Fenumiai in double-figure scoring for Evergreen were
Autumn Moorcroft with 11 points and Jones with 10. Moorcroft handed out four assists and
Kylie Gorton added seven rebounds for the victors.
The Geoducks, who shot 36 percent (20-for-55) from the floor, were an impressive 14-for-17 from the foul line in addition to dominating the backboards, 46-27.
Kyeli Hendryx led Warner Pacific, which shot 38 percent (21-for-55), with 16 points and seven rebounds.