EUGENE, Ore. – The Bushnell women’s basketball team moved their winning streak to seven on Saturday afternoon, taking care of Warner Pacific, 92-67.
The score and scoring margin were very close to Friday’s final result, but the path to get there was much different for the Beacons, who weren’t blessed with the same early smooth shooting. Bushnell built a nine-point lead after the first quarter, but the Knights were able to keep things close as the Beacons held a 35-30 lead at the intermission.
Buckets started to fall with more regularity over the final two quarters as the Beacons pulled away, shooting 65% from the field after intermission with a 6-for-11 clip beyond the arch.
“We knew Warner Pac was going to come out ready to play,” said head coach Chad Meadors, “and we came out a little slow. They played really physical and really fought back in the second quarter. We missed a lot of shots, and at halftime we talked about how the shots would start to fall if we just relax, and that’s what happened.”
Bushnell (8-2, 7-1 CCC) held a 49-12 margin in points off the bench, in large part to another incredible game for freshman Libby Mathis and a rare reserve night for defending CCC Player of the Year Morgan McKinney. Mathis went 10-for-11 from the field for 20 points, adding eight rebounds and two steals.
McKinney got as close to a triple-double as she has in her remarkable career, finishing with ten points, ten rebounds, and a game-high eight assist.
McKinney said, "For this season being what it has been, with the ups and downs of COVID and rules restrictions, it has been really important for our team to get out and keep working hard. We have been working on our stuff, trying to simplify and execute and we really took advantage of that this weekend. Even though tonight started alot closer, the girls really stepped it up and brought home two really big wins."
The starters did their part as well with Aspen Slifka scoring 19 points with four assists and Kaylen Kamelamela chipping in 11 points and six assists. Sarah Reinecker contributed ten points while Kayce Mock finished with nine rebounds along with game-highs of four steals and two blocks.
Meadors said, “This weekend I was really impressed with our freshmen and how they are contributing. We have been able to share the basketball and had over 25 assists in both games. Our kids are tough and there are a lot of scorers out there.”
Warner Pacific (4-7, 1-5 CCC) was led by Lynden Harry, scoring 18 points. Anna Farner posted a double-double with ten points and 12 rebounds along with four assists and four steals. Kylie Guelsdorf scored 11 and Gabriella Bruno posted ten, shooting 1-for-9 from the field but 8-for-11 at the free-throw line.
The Beacons will hit the road for a non-conference game on Tuesday, traveling to take on Linfield College (1-6) at 6:00 pm. Next weekend the team will come home to face Eastern Oregon University in a crucial two-game set to close the year.