Box Score
LA GRANDE, Ore. – The No. 8 Eastern Oregon University women's basketball team held off upset-minded Northwest University Friday, 76-74.
The Mountaineers (18-4, 10-2 Cascade Collegiate Conference) outlasted a fierce late rally from Northwest in the final minutes of play on '70s Night in Quinn Coliseum. EOU led by seven points with 2:28 remaining in regulation, when the Eagles made a steal, hit a shot just inside three-point line, made another steal and then connected on a shot from behind the perimeter. However, Eastern squeaked out the win in the final seconds.
Korrie Bourn paced the Mountaineers with 16 points. The junior was 8-of-19 from the field. She had her fourth double-double of the season, adding 10 rebounds. Bourn also had a team season-high six steals in the victory. Dominique Johnson added 15 points. Brooke Randall and Jorie Freeman had 12 and 10 points respectively.
Eastern finished 47 percent from the field in the game. The Eagles held EOU to 4-of-19 shooting from three-point range. The Mountaineers were 8-of-10 from the free-throw line. Eastern Oregon outrebounded NU, 40-31. Northwest also committed 20 turnovers, to the Mountaineers' 17.
The Eagles entered the game third in NAIA Div. 2 in blocks per game, averaging 6.33. Friday, it was EOU that finished with six blocks, while Northwest had one. Jorie Freeman had four blocks against the Eagles.
The Eagles had a 29-14 lead with 10:53 left in the first half. NU shot over 67 percent through the first 10 minutes, but Eastern Oregon would go on a 14-2 run to pull within two points, 31-29, with 5:01 on the clock. Johnson would tie the score at 33 at the 3:13 mark with a pair of free throws. Bourn's layup would give the Mountaineers a two-point lead, 35-33, with 2:29 left until the break. With EOU leading by four, 37-33, with one minute left, NU would score five straight points to take the lead, 38-37, at halftime.
The second half would remain as close as the first as the Eagles would hold onto the lead until the 10:46 mark when Eastern Oregon's Johnson would tie the score at 58 with her driving layup. EOU would then lead the remainder of the game. With 1:01 remaining in regulation, Domi Mendezona stole the ball and gave it to Emily Drivstuen, who hit a deep two-pointer. Six seconds later, Eastern turned the ball over again, and Mendezona then hit a three-pointer, cutting the lead to 76-74.
The Eagles had a chance to tie or take the lead with 20 seconds remaining in the game but a costly turnover by the NU would give the ball back to EOU and send them to the free throw line with five seconds remaining. Eastern Oregon missed the front end of a one-and-one as Northwest's Jessalyn Jackson pulled off the rebound out-letting to Domi Medezona who sprinted up the court with time running out. Ebany Herd was unable to get her shot off before the buzzer sounded, giving EOU the close victory.
Northwest (9-11, 5-7) was led by Mendezona's game-high 19 points. The sophomore was 7-of-13 from the field. Carol Howard added 17 points. Drivstuen and Mari Gonzalez each scored 12 points. Jackson grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. She came into the game averaging a conference-high 20.6 points per game, but was held to five points Friday. The Eagles were 45 percent from the field, 11-of-22 from behind the arc, and made seven of their nine free throws.
The last six regular season games between the teams have been decided by a combined 29 points, with EOU winning four of the games. Three of the contests have been decided in overtime, twice in double overtime. Eastern is now 21-5 under Anji Weissenfluh against the Eagles.
The Mountaineers host The Evergreen State College Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The Geoducks (4-17, 2-10) fell at The College of Idaho Friday, 62-47. EOU won the earlier meeting this season at TESC, 82-51. Live video and stats will be on EOUSports.com. Live radio will be on KUBQ 98.7 FM.
It will be '80s Night in Quinn Coliseum. Fans are encouraged to wear '80s attire to the games, and all fans dressed in '80s attire will receive a giveaway. Fans can get into the games for free with the donation of two non-perishable food items. The free general admission ticket for food donation will only last until halftime of the women's game.