Mountaineers Remain Undefeated at Home with Weekend Sweep of Warriors
EOU Sports Information
LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University Women's Basketball played its second to last home series of the 2020-21 season this weekend as the Mountaineers took on Corban University inside Quinn Coliseum on Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24. EOU walked away winners in both contests to improve to 14-4 overall and 8-2 in conference play.
The Mountaineers two wins also puts their home record at a perfect 6-0 this season. On Saturday, Eastern also got to honor its lone senior of the 2020-21 class in Jillian Albright. The Mountaineers won easily on Friday by double figures, 92-58, before playing a close contest in game two to an eventual 77-70 win.
Game 1 – Eastern Oregon 92, Corban 58
How it Happened
• The Mountaineers shot 50.7% for the game and were 47.1% from deep in the win. They held the Warriors (7-6, 4-6 CCC) to just 38.5% shooting overall and 15.8% from beyond the arc. Eastern held a 42-35 edge in rebounds and their reserves outscored Corban's bench 39-18.
• Corban jumped ahead 2-0 to start the contest but it was short lived as EOU went in front 6-2 in the first four minutes of action and never looked back. Despite a slow start offensively, the Mountaineers outscored the Warriors 23-11 in the first.
• EOU led by as much as 14 points in the first frame before going into the second with the 12-point edge. Corban looked to stay in the contest and managed to get within seven in the first two minutes of play. Trailing 23-16, Corban was within striking distance before the Mountaineers went on a 11-2 run to jump ahead by 16 points at 34-18.
• The Warriors looked to respond but each time the Mountaineers had an answer and went into halftime leading by 16, 41-25. The 16-point spread was the largest of the first half for Eastern. At the start of the second half, the Mountaineers played their best quarter of the contest in the third.
• Eastern scored 28 points in the third period and held Corban to just 10 to open up the score. A 13-2 run by EOU to start the third quarter was the difference maker and putting the Warriors away. The run lasted just three minutes but gave the Mountaineers a commanding 27-point lead at 54-27.
• The Warriors never recovered from the surge and mustered just eight points in the final seven minutes of the third. EOU led by 29 late in the frame, before making a pair of shots in the final 67 seconds to go up 34, 69-35.
• In the fourth quarter, Corban found a groove and was able to score 23 points, but the Mountaineers matched their point total to stay in control by 30-plus points the whole quarter. The surge in the third quarter allowed EOU to empty its bench which still proved to be too much for Corban to handle.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Six EOU players scored in double figures, led by Taylor Stricklin with a game high of 17 on 6-10 shooting. She was 5-8 from beyond the arc to go along with five rebounds.
• Beverly Slater and Adyson Harris each scored 13 in the win. Slater was 6-10 with nine rebounds and six assists. Harris went 5-8 from the floor and was 3-5 from deep.
• Leilani Padilla scored 11 points in 16 minutes of action. She shot 3-5 overall and went 3-4 from three-point range. She also dished out six assists in the win.
• Jillian Albright and Brandy Smith both chipped in 10 points. Both players made four shots in the contest and combined for nine rebounds and seven assists.
Game 2 – Eastern Oregon 77, Corban 70
How it Happened
• The second game of the series was a closer battle from start-to-finish. The Warriors shot 48.3% in the second go around and were 46.7% from three-point range. Eastern was 41.5% from the floor and 41.9% from deep.
• Corban led the way in nearly every statistical category, but it was free throws that made the difference. Corban did not miss a shot at the charity stripe but only had five attempts. EOU managed to get to the line for 14 attempts and made 10.
• The opening quarter was a track meet as the two squads combined for 50 points and were locked at 25-all tie going into the second. Neither team managed to lead by more than four points and traded shots the whole way.
• In the second frame, the Warriors pieced together a quick 5-0 run after EOU tied the game back up at 27-all. The small Surge by Corban made it a five-point game at 32-27, before the Mountaineers went on an 8-0 run to go ahead by three, 35-32, with 4:05 to play in the half. Both teams scored four more points before halftime to make a 39-36 game in favor of Eastern at the break.
• In the third, Corban managed to get within one point with 8:31 to play in the frame at 42-41, but an 8-2 run by Eastern put them ahead by seven. The quick little run by EOU was the difference in the third as the Mountaineers led by 5-8 points the rest of the quarter and took a 55-49 lead into the fourth.
• The Warriors slowly chipped away at the Mountaineers lead in the fourth and eventually tied the contest up at 59-59 with 5:30 play in regulation. It was a back-and-forth affair the rest of the quarter and it was not until late that EOU was able to slip away with the win.
• Corban managed to tie the game at 66-all with 3:03 left on the clock before back-to-back made shots, including a three-pointer, put EOU ahead by five, 71-66. The Warriors were able to get within one, 71-70, but were forced to foul in the final 1:24 of action. Free throw shooting combined with stout defense helped EOU secure the seven-point win.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Taylor Stricklin put 17 points for the second game in a row to lead all scorers. She shot 6-13 overall and was 50% (5-10) from three-point range. She also grabbed eight boards in the win.
• Jillian Albright put up 15 points and had eight rebounds. She went 5-7 from the floor and nailed a pair of triples.
• Sailor Liefke scored 13 points in 32 minutes of action and dished out a game-high nine assists.
• Beverly Slater added 13 points on 6-12 shooting and had five assists in the win.
By the Numbers
6 – Eastern Oregon is still undefeated at home this season at a perfect 6-0.
14 – The 14 steals by the Mountaineers in game one is the most in a single game this season.
31 – EOU's 31 assists in game one against Corban is the most in a game this year.
30 – The Mountaineers have made 30-plus shot attempts in four of their six home games this year.
5 – The five fouls committed by Eastern in game one is the lowest in a single game this season.
Up Next
• The Mountaineers are scheduled to close out the 2020-21 season next weekend when they host the Pacific University Boxers for a two-game series on April 30 and May 1. Tip-off times are set for 5:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. PT, respectively.
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