SEWARD, Neb. – Another top-10 matchup for Southern Oregon turned into a showcase of Emma Schmerbach's improved offensive skill set in the final game of the Cattle Classic.
The senior wing scored a career-high 24 points in leading the No. 10-ranked Raiders over No. 5 Concordia (Neb.), 71-68, on Saturday afternoon at Friedrich Arena. A day after holding on for a 70-68 win against No. 6 Dakota State (S.D.) – and watching the Trojans miss a potential game-winning 3 at the buzzer – SOU led by two with a few seconds left when Clara Robbins forced Megan Belt into a contested attempt at the rim that found nothing but backboard.
Schmerbach, one of the Cascade Conference's best defenders since arriving at SOU two years ago, scored more points against the Bulldogs (1-1) than she had in her last six games combined dating back to last season. She shot 9-of-19 from the field and added six rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Shortly after Concordia cut what had been a 10-point deficit to 64-61 midway through the fourth quarter, Schmerbach came up with a blocked shot on one end and stepped into a 3-pointer on the other, her second of the game and the third of her career. Two minutes later, her drive and finish at the basket extended SOU's lead to six again at 69-63.
The Raiders (2-0) split four free throws the rest of the way and committed a turnover with 21 seconds left to give Concordia a chance, but Robbins foiled it.
Concordia became the second top-five team the Raiders have defeated under coach Carlotta Kloppenburg-Pruitt but the first top-10 squad they've taken down in a road game over the last decade. They've won back-to-back against top-10 opponents for the first time in at least 20 years.
Sierra Scheppele helped them do it with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from 3. She hit two of those as the Raiders built a 24-13 advantage by the end of the first quarter. Meghan McIntyre, who finished with 10 points and three steals, had all four of her assists in the period.
Kendal Brigham logged 18 points and three steals to lead three Bulldogs in double figures.
SOU, which plays its first 11 games of the season on the road, is in Klamath Falls next week to face Cal Maritime on Friday and UC Merced on Saturday at the Lithia-Oregon Tech Classic.