OLYMPIA, Wash. – The fifth-ranked Eastern Oregon Mountaineers had to put together a full 40 minutes to hold off the upset-minded Evergreen Geoducks, 50-45, in a Cascade Conference women’s basketball game on Saturday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.
The Mounties (23-2, 13-0 CCC) took the initial lead on a jumper by Korrie Bourne but the Geoducks (5-12, 4-9 CCC) came to play, earning the early lead as EOU found themselves in an unfamiliar spot. After a see-saw battle over much of the first half, the Mountaineers finally grabbed back the lead on another Bourn jumper with 2:33 left to play in the opening period. Eastern Oregon pushed the advantage to five-points at halftime, leading 27-22.
In the second half, EOU pushed the lead into double-digits on a pair of three-pointers but the Geoducks quickly erased the differential, getting back within four points just a few possessions later. Eastern managed to push the lead to 10 again with 7:24 left to go and despite their best efforts, Evergreen couldn’t pull even as the Mounties remained perfect in conference play with the 50-45 win.
Evergreen was led by nine points and 14 rebounds from junior Danielle Swain (Rainier, Wash./Black Hills HS). Jessica Denmon (Oak Harbor, Wash./Skagit Valley CC) also added nine points for the Geoducks, who shot just 37.0% from the field, making 17-of-46 attempts. Evergreen did hold the advantage on the glass, outrebounding EOU by a tally of 38-31.
Eastern Oregon was led by 15 points and nine rebounds from Chayla Jones. Brooke Randall chalked up 11 for the Mounties, also dishing out five assists. The Mounties shot 34.7% from the field, making 17-of-49 attempts, including five from behind the arc.
The Geoducks hit the road next weekend, traveling to the Rose City to take on Warner Pacific. Tip with the Knights is set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday in Portland, Ore.