OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Evergreen Geoducks punched their ticket to the postseason for the third straight season, holding off the Warner Pacific Knights, 61-59, in a Cascade Conference women’s basketball game on Friday night at CRC Gymnasium.

The last-place Knights came ready to play on Friday night as the playoff-bound Geoducks found themselves in a dogfight early.  Evergreen eventually built a seven-point lead with 4:26 left to go in the opening half but WPC quickly erased the differential as the Geoducks led by just two points at half, 34-32.

In the second half, Warner Pacific came out strong and built a six-point advantage with 13:31 left to go but the Geoducks dug deep to tie the game at 48 with 7:32 left to play.  After WPC retook the lead with 2:06 left to play, Sadee Jones (Belfair, Wash./North Mason HS) hit a jumper with 1:46 left to tie the game at 59-59 and then senior Randi Boseman (New Orleans, La./Newport HS) put in a layup with 47 seconds left to give Evergreen the 61-59 win.

Evergreen was led by 14 points from Clark, who also added three assists and two steals.  Brittany Gray (Bainbridge Island, Wash./Bainbridge HS/Skagit Valley CC) added 11 points while Jones finished with 10 points on the night.  The Geoducks shot just 38.5% on the night but took advantage of 23 WPC turnovers, scoring 19 points off giveaways.

Warner Pacific was led by 13 points from Courtney Walchli.  Jordan Wilcox added 12 points and the only two Knights in double-digits scoring.  WPC shot 43.1% on the night, making 22 of 51 attempts from the field.

The Geoducks wrap up the home portion of the schedule on Saturday night when they play host to Concordia. Tip with the Cavaliers is set for 5:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

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OLYMPIA, Wash. – After 13 seasons at the helm of The Evergreen State College women’s basketball program, head coach and assistant athletic director Monica Heuer has decided to step down from her coaching post and move into a full-time administrative position, effective at the end of the 2013-14 season.

“I would like to thank the administration, President Purce, Wendy Endress, Lee Hoemann, the person who hired me Dave Weber, and the Director of Recreation and Athletics Matt Newman and all of my colleagues I have the pleasure working with every day,” said Heuer. “The support has been great and has even increased throughout my 13 years as the women’s basketball coach at The Evergreen State College. It has been a wonderful experience to build a program based on accountability, relationships, discipline, community and high graduation rates.”

Heuer, the longest tenured coach in school history, took over the program prior to the 2001-02 season after two stints as head coach at Patten College in Oakland, Calif.  A 1991 graduate of Cal State University Hayward (now Cal State East Bay), she also served as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I San Jose State and University of San Francisco.

“Coach Heuer truly is the face of Evergreen basketball,” said athletic director Matt Newman. “Monica brings a consistent student-first approach to all of her work, and that combined with her exceptional work-ethic and high level of integrity have produced impressive results for the women’s basketball program and for the College.”

Over the past 13 seasons, she has posted a career record of 108-255 heading into the weekend.  Her teams made the postseason six times in her tenure and look to clinch a third-straight trip and a seventh overall for Heuer this weekend against Warner Pacific and Concordia.

“I know so many people on campus, in the community, and across the country who consider Monica a top-notch mentor, educator, and friend,” added Newman. “She will be missed on the court, but we are excited to retain her in an administrative role.”

Assistant coach Jennifer Schooler will take over the program in an interim capacity, effective at the end of the season. A 2002 graduate of the University of Idaho, where she played for the Vandals, coach Schooler is in her fourth season as an assistant for Heuer and the Geoduck women.

“My right hand, Jennifer Schooler, who has been an integral part of our success, has  exceeded expectations in her role as assistant coach,” added Heuer. “With her at the helm as interim head coach, this program will continue to move forward in a positive way.”

Information regarding the national search to hire a permanent replacement will be announced in the near future

ASHLAND, Ore. – Dropping just their second road game of the season, the Evergreen Geoducks couldn’t find a way to win on Saturday night, falling 73-62 to the Southern Oregon Raiders in a Cascade Conference women’s basketball game on Saturday night at McNeal Pavilion in Ashland, Ore.

After trading baskets to open the game, the Raiders went on a 13-0 run to take the early lead as the Geoducks went over five and a half minutes without a point before Sammi Clark (Monroe, Wash./Monroe HS/Edmonds CC) hit a pair of free throws to get Evergreen back on the board with 11:35 to go in the first half.

The Geoducks eventually cut the gap to just three with 8:55 left to go in the opening period as Evergreen managed to keep pace with the up-tempo Raiders.  SOU went on a 10-0 run over the final minutes of the half, allowing Southern Oregon to take a 40-29 lead into the halftime break.

Southern Oregon continued to hold the lead as the second half ticked down but it wasn’t as easy for the Raiders as it was on Friday night against Northwest.  While the Raiders were unable to build a lead much larger than the lower teens, the Geoducks were unable to pull back into contention, falling 73-62.

Evergreen was led by 17 points from Clark, who played 38 of 40 minutes of the Geoducks.  Jessica Denmon (Oak Harbor, Wash./Oak Harbor HS/Skagit Valley CC) added 15 points while Natasha Trinidad (Tacoma, Wash./River Ridge HS/Pierce CC) added 12 points on the night.

Southern Oregon was led by 20 points from Carly Meister.  Kristin Schoenherr added 16 points and 11 rebounds in the win to collect the double-double. Ashley Claussen and Allison Gida finished with 11 points each to round out the Raiders in double-digit scoring.

The Geoducks return home on Friday to host Warner Pacific to open up their final home stand.  Tip with the Knights is set for 5:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium.

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