Geoducks Knock Out Boxers, 69-66

FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Junior Brittany Gray (Bainbridge Island, Wash./Bainbridge HS/Skagit Valley CC) scored 20 of her game-high 29 points in the second half as the Evergreen Geoducks won their fourth in a row, defeating the Pacific Boxers, 69-66, in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Tuesday night at the Stoller Center in Forest Grove, Ore.

The Geoducks (4-2) took the lead just 19 seconds into the game as Sammi Clark (Monroe, Wash./Monroe HS/Edmonds CC) hit a jumper as Evergreen scored the first eight points of the game.  Pacific (1-1) battled back to tie the game at 16-16 with 11:16 left to go in the opening period.  The teams continued to battle as Clark scored the final points of the half to pull the Geoducks within one at 32-31 heading into the break.

The Gray show started 20 seconds into the second half as she hit a jumper to put Evergreen back up by one.  Pacific didn’t back down as the teams continued to battle back and forth.  After Alex Pfefferle hit a three pointer to give the Boxers a one-point lead with 2:05 left, Gray gave the Geoducks back the lead with 1:50 to go and the Geoducks never looked back, earning the 69-66 win.

Evergreen was led by 29 points from Gray, who also added 16 rebounds in the win to earn the double-double.  Clark added 20 points in the win while Sadee Jones (Belfair, Wash./North Mason HS) nearly earned the double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.

Pacific was led by 11 points from Pfeffrle.  Abby Jones and Jonica Durbin each added 10 points in the loss.  The Boxers shot 45.0% from the field, making 27-of-60 attempts.

Evergreen takes a long break before opening up Cascade Conference play on Dec. 6 at home against Eastern Oregon.  Tip with the Mountaineers is set for 5:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score

Geoducks Nearly Sink No. 22 Keelhaulers, 79-75

OLYMPIA, Wash. – In a game that featured 15 lead changes, the Evergreen Geoducks nearly picked up the upset win over the 22nd-ranked Cal Maritime Keelhaulers before falling 79-75 in a non-conference men’s basketball game on Sunday afternoon at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The Geoducks (1-4) got off to a quick start as a jumper by Bryce Phillip (Spanaway, Wash./Bethel HS/Green River CC) and a three-pointer by Cody Peters (Oak Harbor, Wash./Coupeville HS/Western Oregon Univ.) gave Evergreen the early 5-0 lead.   The Keelhaulers (7-1) battled back, pulling ahead by as many as eight with 4:12 left to play but a 7-0 run to end the half gave Evergreen a one-point 37-36 halftime lead.

In the second half, both teams came out strong as the Geoducks continued to control the pace.  After the Keelhaulers took the lead back with 3:33 left to play, a three-pointer by Frankie Johnson (Renton, Wash./Hazen HS) gave Evergreen a brief lead with 1:44 left to play but Jaqui Wiley made a layup with 50 seconds left as the Keelhaulers held on for the 79-75 win.

Evergreen was led by 16 points from Johnson, who also added five assists.  Kyle Calhoun (Seattle, Wash./Hazen HS/Marshalltown CC) added 14 points while Peters finished with 12 on the afternoon.  Michael Potter (Ridgefield, Wash./Ridgefield HS) led the Geoduck bench with 10 points.  Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Skyview HS/Edmonds CC) nearly collected the double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.

Cal Maritime was led by 26 points from Casey Healy, who also added a team-high eight rebounds.  Blaine Blaser and Erik Hanson each added 14 in the win while Wiley finished with 10 on the game.  The Keelhaulers shot 51.8%, making 29-of-56 attempts from the field.

Evergreen will be back in action on Dec. 6 when they host Eastern Oregon to open up Cascade Conference play.  Tip with the Mountaineers is set for 7:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score

Evergreen Upsets No. 17 Lewis & Clark, 84-75

OLYMPIA, Wash.  – A strong night shooting and a solid team effort boosted the Evergreen Geoducks to their third straight win as they earned a 84-75 upset win over the 17th-ranked Lewis & Clark Pioneers in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Saturday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Junior Sadee Jones (Belfair, Wash./North Mason HS) gave the Geoducks (3-2) the lead  just 12 seconds into the game but the Pioneers (1-3) didn’t go away easily as the first half featured eight ties and four lead changes. A layup by Brittany Gray (Bainbridge Island, Wash./Bainbridge HS/Skagit Valley CC) put the Geoducks up by three with a minute left to go in the first period but a L&C free throw cut the lead to two at half, 42-40.

In the second half, the teams continued to battle as Lewis & Clark put together a late push that put the Pioneers up by three with 4:14 left to play.  Evergreen answered with a 6-0 run that put the Geoducks up by three with 2:27 left on the clock and the home squad never looked back, holding on for the 84-75 win.

Evergreen was led by 17 points off the bench from Kiemba Pearson (Seattle, Wash./Renton HS/Highline CC).  Jones add4ed 15 points with seven rebounds while Jessica Denmon (Oak Harbor, Wash./Oak Harbor HS/Skagit Valley CC) added 14 points with four assists.  Gray finished with 13 points and eight rebounds while Sammi Clark (Monroe, Wash./Monroe HS/Edmonds CC) chalked up 11 points, all in the second half.

Lewis & Clark was led by34 points from Tayler Wang and 20 from Katie Anderson.  Ayisat Afolabi added 11 off the bench.  The Pioneers shot 48.1% from the field, making 25-of-52 attempts on the night.

Evergreen hits the road for one more before Thanksgiving when they travel down to Oregon on Tuesday to take on Pacific.  Tip with the Boxers is set for 6 p.m. in Forest Grove, Ore.

Box Score

Geoducks Tame Wildcats, 63-56

McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Taking to the road for the first time this season, the Evergreen Geoducks earned a 63-56 win over the Linfield Wildcats in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Friday night at Ted Wilson Gymnasium in McMinnville, Ore.

After Linfield scored first the Geoducks took control building an eight-point lead, 12-4 just over six minutes into the game.  The Wildcats tied things up at 18-18 with 3:47 left in the period but a four-point run in the final minute gave the Geoducks a 26-22 halftime lead.

Linfield came out strong in the second half, taking the lead on a jumper by Taylor Solomon but the Geoducks retook the lead on a jumper by Brittany Gray (Bainbridge Island, Wash./Bainbridge HS/Skagit Valley CC) with 15:05 left on the clock and the Geoducks never looked back.  The Evergreen lead hit double-digits with 7:01 left to go and while the lead dipped back into single-digits, the Geoducks remained in control as they earned the 63-56 win.

Evergreen was led by 17 points and 11 rebounds from Gray.  Senior Sammi Clark (Monroe, Wash./Monroe HS/Edmonds CC) added 14 points while Sadee Jones (Belfair, Wash./North Mason HS) added 11 points in the win.  The Geoducks held a slight advantage on the glass, outrebounding Linfield 38-35.

Linfield was led by 13 points each from Katelyn Henson and Quincy Gibson.  Linfield shot 40.8% from the field, making 20-of-49 attempts.

The Geoducks return to Olympia on Saturday night when they take on 17th-ranked Lewis & Clark.  Tip with the Pioneers is set for 6 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score

Love Named First-Team All-CCC

LA GRANDE, Ore. – After helping lead the Evergreen Geoducks to their best record in 10 years, senior Victoria Love (Seaside, Calif./Seaside HS/Hartnell College) has been named First-Team All-Cascade Conference, as selected by the coaches and announced by the conference on Monday morning.

Love led the Cascade Conference with 3.92 kills per set, including an NAIA-best 37 on Sep. 27 against Corban.  She was also ninth in blocks, averaging 0.89 per set, as the Geoducks finished just one spot out of the playoffs with a record of 8-15 overall and 7-11 in CCC play.  She is the first Evergreen player since 2003 to earn first team honors and just the second overall.

Eastern Oregon’s Casey Loper was named Player of the Year.  Southern Oregon’s Renee Yomtob was named Libero of the Year while teammate Lauren McGowne was named Freshman of the Year.  Liz Mendiola repeated as Coach of the Year after leading College of Idaho to the regular season and tournament titles.

2013 Volleyball All-CCC Team