SALEM, Ore. – The Cascade Collegiate Conference's (CCC) highest scoring offense finally hit a wall to end the non-conference slate of their 2025-26 regular season schedule, as the No. 22-ranked Corban University Women's Basketball team shot just 19% from the field in the first half of their 67-57 loss to NCAA DIII Linfield University to suffer their first counting contest loss of the year. The Warriors (9-1) rallied in the second half to pull within six points with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, but the Northwest Conference preseason favorite Wildcats (6-2) were able to hang convert on their free throws down the stretch to escape Salem with a double-digit win.
"Linfield is a very tough and well coached team who are very balanced in their scoring," Corban head coach Kylie Frizell explained. "Unfortunately, we struggled to make shots even when we got some really good looks. I'm proud of our effort and response in the second half to rally a comeback and compete."
In atypical fashion for the previously undefeated Warrior squad, their bucket had a lid for the majority of the opening half for a Corban team the averages over 83 points per game through nine contests to date. Just six made field goals on 31 attempts for an overall percentage under 20% resulted in their lopsided 41-20 halftime deficit. By far their least efficient half of the regular season, the Navy and Gold created opportunities and gave their shooters good looks, just couldn't find the bottom of the basket.
A 13-2 run by the Warriors to open the third quarter cut their massive scoreboard deficit to a reasonable ten points and momentum on their sideline, but Linfield was able to go shot-for-shot the remainder of the period to lead by 13 entering the fourth quarter. Another late push by the Corban starting lineup saw the Wildcat lead trimmed to two possessions at 63-57, yet Linfield utilized their efficient shooting from the charity stripe while the hometown offense fell cold once again to cling on to the non-conference victory.
Warriors' redshirt sophomore guard Jersey Huerta scored 16 points and hauled in eight rebounds, dishing out three assists along the way in their first loss of the season, while graduate student center Emilia Bishop added 13 points, eight rebounds, and swatted three blocks as well. Huerta and Bishop were the lone double-figure offensive scorers for Corban, with redshirt junior guard Jenna Albrecht representing the next highest scorer with eight points, six boards, three assists, and three steals.
A 12-point and 13-rebound double-double effort by Wildcat guard Miki Vermeulen powered the visiting team to the victory over a nationally ranked NAIA program, with guard Amelia Solt scoring a game-high 20 points, half of which came from the free throw line. Guard Allie Mead submitted the most well-balanced stat line of the afternoon, as she scored seven points, dished out seven dimes, brought down five rebounds, and snagged four steals.
With the non-conference slate now firmly in the rearview mirror, the Navy and Gold will turn their attention to the majority of their conference season that begins next weekend down the I-5 interstate against Southern Oregon University (7-3, 2-0) in Ashland, with tipoff scheduled for 5:30pm on Friday, December 19th.
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