OLYMPIA, Wash. – After shooting just 38.9% in the first half, the Evergreen Geoducks exploded for 50 points in the second half to pick up their 13th win of the season with an 84-71 victory over the Concordia Cavaliers in a Cascade Conference women’s basketball game on Saturday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The Cavaliers were ready to play early as CU scored the first six points of the game, pushing the lead into double-digits with 12:01 left to go in the opening period.  Concordia continued to hold the lead for the rest of the half but a three-pointer by Natasha Trinidad (Tacoma, Wash./River Ridge HS/Pierce CC) with nine seconds left pulled the Geoducks within two at 36-34.

In the second half, the Geoducks took their first lead of the game on a free throw following a made basket by Sadee Jones (Belfair, Wash./North Mason HS).  Evergreen didn’t look back as the green and white connected on 63.3% of their second half attempts as the lead hit double-digits with just under eight minutes to play on a jumper by senior Sammi Clark (Monroe, Wash./Monroe HS/Edmonds CC) Concordia tried to get back in it but a balanced Evergreen offense never gave them a chance as six players finished in double-digits to give the Geoducks the 84-71 win.

Evergreen was led by 16 points each from Clark and Brittany Gray (Bainbridge Island, Wash./Bainbridge HS/Skagit Valley CC) as Gray also added 12 rebounds for the double-double.  LaNiecia Weatherspoon (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS/Yakima Valley CC) added 15 points off the bench while Trinidad and senior Jessica Denmon (Oak Harbor, Wash./Oak Harbor HS/Skagit Valley CC) each put up 11 points in the win.  Jones finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds to earn the double-double and wrap up the Geoduck scorers in double-digits.

Concordia was led by a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds from Caitlyn McCutcheon.  Lexi Campbell added 19 points while Kelly Huey put up 11 points.  The Cavaliers were outrebounded on the night, 47-31.

Evergreen hits the road next weekend to wrap up the regular season.  The Geoducks will be at College of Idaho on Friday before visiting Eastern Oregon on Saturday.

Box Score

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.

Box Score

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.

Box Score

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Evergreen Geoducks’ bus didn’t move very fast as they battled snow on the 460 mile drive to Oregon Tech but the Geoducks pushed the pace once they arrived at Danny Miles Court as they upset the nationally-ranked Oregon Tech Hustlin’ Owls, 67-58, in a Cascade Conference women’s basketball game on Friday night in Klamath Falls, Ore.

It took over 24 hours for the Geoducks to make it to Klamath Falls and it took a little time for the green and white to warm up but once they did, 21st-ranked Oregon Tech had a hard time stopping them.  After trailing early, the Geoducks used an 11-0 run to pull ahead by four points as the Hustlin’ Owls were forced to hustle the rest of the half.  Evergreen continued to play strong on defense and took care of business on offense, taking a 34-26 lead into the break.

The second half continued to roll the way of the Geoducks as Evergreen opened the period on an 8-0 run to pull ahead by 16 points early.  The lead hit 20 points with 11:40 left to play as LaNiecia Weatherspoon (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS/Yakima Valley CC) put up a pair of free throws that put Evergreen up 54-34.

Oregon Tech stormed back, using a 10-0 lead to cut the Geoduck lead in half at 54-44 before the Geoducks would get another basket.  The Lady Owls pulled back within single digits as the clock continued to tick down.  Ashley Vandenbrink hit a three-pointer for OIT with 1:46 left to go that cut the lead to five points at 58-53 but the Geoducks fired up the jets once again to finish strong and earn the 67-58 win.  It is just the third win all time for the Geoducks in Klamath Falls and fifth win all-time over Oregon Tech.

Evergreen was led by 20 points and 15 rebounds from Brittany Gray (Bainbridge Island, Wash./Bainbridge HS/Skagit Valley CC).  Sadee Jones (Belfair, Wash./North Mason HS) added 14 points while Sammi Clark (Monroe, Wash./Monroe HS/Edmonds CC) finished with 11 points in the win.  The Geoducks held a 47-33 advantage on the glass to earn the conference win.

Oregon Tech was led by 15 points from Tess Armstrong.  Kassi Conditt chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds to earn the double-double but they were the only two Lady Owls in double-digits as OIT shot just 37.3% on the night, making 22-of-59 attempts.

The Geoducks face another big test on Saturday night when they travel to Ashland to take on Southern Oregon.  Tip with the Raiders is set for 5:30 p.m. at McNeal Pavilion.

Box Score