LA GRANDE, Ore. - The No. 12 nationally ranked and the No. 1 seed Eastern Oregon was back in action Tuesday as they took on the No. 10 national ranked and No. 2 seed Warriors of Lewis-Clark State College in the finals of the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament, presented by U.S. Bank. The Mountaineers arose victorious, 75-59, winning their seventh conference tournament title as members of the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
The first quarter of tonight's game was a back and forth affair as both teams fought for the CCC title. Eastern took its biggest lead of the Quarter after Sailor Liefke knocked down a deep three to give the Mounties a 20-13 lead. The Warriors responded by coming down and knocking down a three of their own, taking the score to 20-16 after one quarter of play.
Eastern locked in defensively in the second quarter giving up just 12 total points. The Mountaineers extended their four point first quarter lead to 9 at the half. EOU's Sailor Liefke continued her hot shooting, adding 11 first half points. Halle Wright also chipped in six first half points off the bench for the Mounties. The Warriors struggled from the field in the first half, shooting just 24%, LC State was led by Hannah Broyles who added 12 in the half. Eastern led the Warriors 37-28 at the break.
Eastern Oregon came out of halftime with the conference title insight. The Mounties outscored LC State 22-15 in the third period thanks to an 11-point quarter by Bayley Brennan. Brennan knocked down three three pointers in the quarter sparking the Mounties to a 59-43 lead. Lewis-Clark's Maddie Holm added four points in the quarter. A big three by Adyson Clabby late in the third quarter ended nearly a four minute scoreless drought for the Warriors.
It was much of the same story in the fourth quarter of tonight's game. Eastern's hot shooting which was led and sparked by stellar defensive play showed to be too much for the Warriors of Lewis-Clark State College. The Mountaineers cruised to victory, taking the 2022-2023 Cascade Collegiate Conference title by a score of 75-59.
Eastern will now wait until Thursday, Mar. 2 as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics will release the tournament bracket for the 2022-2023 NAIA Women's Basketball National Championships. Matchups will be announced that evening.
BY THE NUMBERS
- EOU shot 39% to the Warriors 31%
- Eastern won the rebounding battle 52-45
- Eastern led for nearly 38 minutes of the game
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
EOU
- Sailor Liefke - 20 PTS, 7-15 FG, 4-11 3PT, 3 REB, 4 AST
- Bayley Brennan - 18 Pts, 7-16 FG, 4-11 3PT, 6 REB, 4 AST
- Beverly Slater - 8 PTS, 3-8 FG, 2-2 3PT, 15 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL
LCSC
- Maddie Holm - 13 PTS, 4-11 FG, 12 REB, 2 BLK, 1 STL
- Hannah Broyles - 12 PTS, 4-15 FG, 2-9 3PT, 2 REB, 2 AST