ASHLAND – Southern Oregon held Simpson (Calif.) to two baskets over the final 13-plus minutes to break away for a 60-45 win in the final game of the Raider Classic on Friday night at Lithia Motors Pavilion.
Kami Walk totaled 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, pulled down eight rebounds and distributed four assists to lead the Raiders to a 2-0 start. They also got 27 points off the bench, where Izzy Hernandez checked in with new career-highs for the second night in a row with 11 and eight rebounds.
Their lead down to one point at the three-minute mark of the third quarter, backup freshman point guard Keeley Wright came up with a steal and went coast-to-coast for a layup that triggered a game-ending 20-6 run. Wright was key in keeping the Raiders in front during Simpson's rally, also hitting a 3-pointer in the third and dishing three assists in the fourth.
Sierra Scheppele chipped in nine points with a pair of 3-pointers off the bench. Clara Robbins made all three of her field goals in the fourth to finish with eight points, nine rebounds and two blocks.
Walk, a senior forward, surpassed the 1,200-point mark during the game, becoming just the 13th player in team history to do so.
Rachel Gafford scored 11 and Kayla Morgan had 10 for the Redhawks, who dropped to 1-3.
The Raiders are off next week before traveling to Helena, Mont., to face No. 18-ranked Providence (Mont.) and No. 5 Carroll (Mont.) on Nov. 24-25.