OLYMPIA, Wash.  –  While the Evergreen Geoduck men’s and women’s basketball teams battled against the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers inside the CRC Gymnasium,  a battle was being fought in the lobby and the Geoduck faithful stepped up in a big way, adding around 50 names to the national bone marrow registry.

In support of former Evergreen men’s basketball player Aaron Foy, Evergreen teamed up with the Puget Sound Blood Center to build the national registry.  Not only did Evergreen help to build the local and national registry, the volunteers were of diverse racial backgrounds, which is important given that the current registry is 73% Caucasian, leaving many minority patients with a tougher chance of finding a matching donor.

Between the women’s and men’s games, former Director of Recreation & Athletics Pete Steilberg took a few minutes to discuss the importance of the drive before introducing Tonya Knowles of the Puget Sound Blood Center.  Tonya took the chance to dispel some common myths regarding bone marrow donation.

Speaking last was the man of the evening as Aaron Foy took the microphone, thanking everyone for attending the games and supporting such an important cause.  He stressed that fans join the registry not just to help him but to help anyone who could use the marrow before proclaiming “I’m gonna beat this.”

While the Geoducks are proud of the boost they were able to give the registry, they know that the fight is far from over and that the registry will not be complete until everyone who ever needs marrow has a suitable match.  For more information on how you can get involved, visit http://www.psbc.org/programs/marrow.htm.

OLYMPIA, Wash.  – Taking the court for the final time this season, the Evergreen Geoducks put together a solid effort but couldn’t quite get the win, falling to the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers, 71-65, in a Cascade Conference women’s basketball game on Saturday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The Geoducks (5-20, 3-15 CCC) came out ready to play, going ahead by five just 3:31 in but the Mountaineers (18-9, 10-8 CCC) powered back, taking the lead less than 90 seconds later using two of their six first-half three pointers.  EOU’s lead reached double-digits with just under two minutes left as the visiting Mounties took the 32-22 lead into the half.

In the second half, the Mounties continued to extend the lead, reaching 18 with 14:39 left to play but knowing that they were hitting the hardwood for the final time this season, the Geoducks battled back, pulling back within four points with just 1:57 left to play.  Evergreen continued to play hard until the end but when the final buzzer sounded, Eastern Oregon earned their 10th conference win of the year, 71-65.

Evergreen was led by 17 points from senior LaTrina Woods (Skyway, Wash./La Sierra Univ.), who also added eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals in her final collegiate contest.  Fellow senior Vanessa Caskey (Tacoma, Wash./Pierce CC) added 15 points while freshman Danielle Swain (Rainier, Wash./Black Hills HS)  collected the double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.  Shevon Tate (Tacoma, Wash./Tacoma CC) rounded out the Geoducks in double-digit scoring with 11 points on the night.

Eastern Oregon was led by 17 points from Kyle Miller.  Shaylee Nielsen came off the bench to add 13 while Rosebud Guthrie, Kelsea Hurliman and Samantha Flett each chipped in 10 points in the win.  The Mounties hit 10 shots from behind the arc to collect the win.

The Geoducks end the season at 5-20, including 3-15 in the Cascade Conference.  Eastern Oregon finishes the regular season at 18-9 overall and 10-8 in CCC counters.

Game Stats

• Box Score

OLYMPIA, Wash.  –  With their playoff fate decided well before the final buzzer sounded, the Evergreen Geoducks battled with but eventually fell to the 13th-ranked Eastern Oregon Mountaineers, 95-89, in a Cascade Collegiate Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

In the opening period, the nationally-ranked Mounties (23-5, 14-4 CCC) got off to the quick start, leading the Geoducks (8-20, 5-13 CCC) by as many as nine early.  The EOU lead hit double-digits with 8:49 left to play as Thomas McCarthy hit a three-pointer to put the score at 28-17 in favor of the Mountaineers.

Evergreen chipped away at the lead, pulling back within one point with 5:50 left to go after a 12-2 Geoduck run.  The green and white tied things up with just under three minutes to go but a 14-3 EOU run put the Mounties up by 11 at halftime, 48-37.

In the second half, the Geoducks slowly but surely chipped away at the lead, tying the game up yet again with exactly 10 minutes left to play.   Evergreen took the lead briefly with 2:38 left to go on a monster dunk by Larry Green (Seattle, Wash./Grays Harbor CC) but Eastern Oregon finished strong, going back up by six to earn the 95-89 win.

Evergreen was led by 18 points and 10 rebounds from Green.  Freshman Mikey Hope (Tacoma, Wash./Wilson HS) added 17 while junior Johnny Sarsyz (Seattle, Wash./South Puget Sound CC) came off the bench to score 13.  Junior Marice Tolliver (Tacoma, Wash./Lower Columbia CC) and Michael Brumsey (Tacoma, Wash./South Puget Sound CC) each added 10 in the losing effort.

Eastern Oregon was led by 21 points off the bench by Thomas McCarthy.  Jamar Johnson chipped in 17, 11 of which came from the charity stripe, while JC Cook put up 16 for the victorious Mountaineers.  EOU shot 51.7% from the field, including 11 three-pointers as they earned the second seed in next week’s CCC Tournament.

The Geoducks finish the 2010-11 season with a record of 8-20 and 5-13 in conference play, just one game out of the playoff field in ninth place.

Game Stats

• Box Score

OLYMPIA, Wash.  – Heading into the final seconds with the chance to win, the Evergreen Geoducks couldn’t get luck to go their way as the College of Idaho Coyotes escaped with a 62-58 win in a Cascade Collegiate Conference women’s basketball game on Friday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

In the first half, the Geoducks (5-19, 3-14 CCC) took the lead right away as senior Latrina Woods (Skyway, Wash./La Sierra Univ.)  put the first biscuit in the basket just four seconds in to put the Coyotes (15-12, 10-7 CCC) behind early.  College of Idaho took their first lead of the game with 12:39 left to go in the opening period and managed to build a nine-point lead with 7:52 remaining.  The Geoducks chipped the differential away to pull within one with 45 seconds left as a late ‘Yote basket put the visitors up at half, 35-32.

In the second half, the Coyotes looked to take control early but the Geoducks got back in it, retaking the lead with 11:08 left to play.  The game went back and forth for the next 10 minutes as neither team was able to build an advantage bigger than four.  Down one with 17 seconds left to play, Evergreen had the chance to win the game with a three pointer but the ‘Yotes’ Nicole Gall picked off a pass.  Gall then hit a pair of free throws as College of Idaho earned the 62-58 win.

Evergreen was led by 15 points from Vanessa Caskey (Tacoma, Wash./Pierce CC).  Woods added 14 while freshman Danielle Swain (Rainier, Wash./Black Hills HS) added 13 points to go with  for the game and forced 18 C of I turnovers on the night.

College of Idaho was led by 14 points from Meghan Hughes.  Rachel Rasmussen added 11 points off the bench.  Gall, who came in averaging 18.9 ppg, was held to nine points but got the win as the ‘Yotes picked up their tenth conference win of the year.

Evergreen will close out the 2010-11 season on Saturday night when they play host to Eastern Oregon.  Prior to the game, the Geoducks will honor three young women who will be playing their final collegiate contest.

Game Stats

• Box Score

Upcoming games

• Saturday, February 19 – vs. Eastern Oregon 5:30pm (END OF REGULAR SEASON)

OLYMPIA, Wash.  –  The Evergreen Geoducks erased a 14 point deficit in the second half but Matt Ballenger hit a game-winning three with two seconds left to lead the College of Idaho Coyotes to a 76-74 win in a Cascade Collegiate Conference men’s basketball game on Friday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The Geoducks (8-19, 5-12 CCC) got off to a solid start, building a five point lead over the Coyotes (13-15, 10-7 CCC) early in the contest.  College of Idaho kept things close and grabbed the lead back with 5:56 left in the opening frame but Evergreen kept it close as the ‘Yotes needed a jumper by Kelly McCarty with 25 seconds left to take the 34-33 lead into the halftime break.

In the second half, it looked like the ‘Yotes were going to run away with it as they pushed the lead into double-digits with 13:48 left to go.  The lead was 14 for the Coyotes at the 11:24 mark and C of I was still up by 11 with five minutes left to play but the Geoducks weren’t ready to give in.  An 11-3 run got Evergreen back within three with just over a minute left to play.

After a pair of free throws by the ‘Yotes Miguel Rodriguez, the Geoducks scored six points in 29 seconds to take a one-point lead with just 19 seconds left to play, leaving the ‘Yotes with a chance to win it.  College of Idaho worked the ball down the court and into the hands of Ballenger, who fired from outside the arc and found nothing but net with just two seconds left to give the ‘Yotes the hard-fought victory, 76-74.

Evergreen was led by a season-high 30 points from junior Marice Tolliver (Tacoma, Wash./Lower Columbia CC), who also added six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block in the loss.  Senior Josh Troyer (Vancouver, Wash./Lower Columbia CC) added 18 points as the Geoducks shot 45.2% from the field but just 60% from the charity stripe.

College of Idaho was led by 20 points for Ballenger, who also added eight rebounds.  McCarty added 19 for the ‘Yotes while Krispin Banks collected the double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.  Steve Peres chipped in 11 points to round out the College of Idaho double-digit scorers.  C of I turned the ball over 21 times on the night but outrebounded Evergreen, 44-33.

The Geoducks will head into Saturday’s regular season finale with #13 Eastern Oregon with a chance to make the postseason but they will need some help.  In order to earn a berth in next week’s CCC Tournament, Evergreen will have to pick up a win over EOU and hope for a loss by Concordia against Southern Oregon.

Game Stats

• Box Score

Upcoming Games

• Sat, February 19 vs. Eastern Oregon 7:30pm