Lions Beat Geoducks on Late Three-Pointer
Sequoia Wheeler drained a three-pointer from the top of the key with 4.0 seconds to play and Milan Woods added a steal and free throw with 0.9 seconds left as Multnomah defeated Evergreen, 79-77, in Cascade Collegiate Conference women's basketball action inside Costantino Recreation Center on Saturday night.
Wheeler led the victorious Lions (7-3 overall, 2-0 CCC) with 26 points, including five three-point baskets, while Merrily Jones paced the Geoducks (0-5, 0-2) with 28 points and 11 rebounds.
There were 12 ties and 14 lead changes throughout a tightly contested game that saw neither team lead by more than seven points. Evergreen led for slightly more than 16 minutes, Multnomah was on top for 18 and the game was tied for just under six minutes.
Trailing 54-52 entering the fourth quarter, Evergreen got two baskets from Alexcis Higginbotham, a follow bucket from Deidra Miller and a three-pointer from Jones to go on top, 61-58, with 6:36 to play. Later, trailing 73-69 following a three-pointer by Multnomah's Bethany George, the Geoducks regained the lead, 77-75, on an Amber Jones layin, the assist going to Miller who passed the ball out of a double team.
That brought the game down to the big three-pointer from Wheeler, who ended up 5-for-11 from beyond the arc to lead her team with 26 points. She came around a screen from Woods, took a pass from George and let fly from about 25 feet.
With four seconds to advance the ball down the floor, the Geoducks instead saw Woods record her third steal of the game, and after her free throw Evergreen was unable to get off a shot before the final horn.
Jones was outstanding all game long for the home team, shooting 9-for-12 overall, 5-for-8 from beyond the three-point line and 5-for-6 from the charity stripe in scoring her Evergreen career-high 28 points.
Higginbotham was the only other Geoduck player in double figures with 17 points. Evergreen shot 42 percent overall and 37 percent from long range but won the rebounding battle, 41-35.
Joining Wheeler in double figures for Multnomah were Alaygza Portis and Paris Sanders with 11 points apiece and Erykah Campbell with 10. The Lions shot 48 percent from long range (10-for-21) and 46 percent overall.
Evergreen returns to action on Wednesday when it travels to Tacoma to face non-conference opponent Puget Sound at 6 p.m.