EUGENE, Ore. – A strong second half by the host Northwest Christian Beacons was enough to knock off the Evergreen Geoducks as the Beacons earned the 75-60 win in a Cascade Collegiate Conference women’s basketball contest on Friday evening in Eugene, Ore.
The recent outstanding play of freshman Danielle Swain (Rainier, Wash./Black Hills HS) continued early as the first-year player accounted for the first six points scored by the visiting Geoducks (4-13, 2-8 CCC). Down 8-2, the Beacons (8-12, 4-6 CCC) responded quickly, going on a 14-1 run to take a seven-point lead nearly midway through the period. Junior Vanessa Caskey (Tacoma, Wash./Pierce CC) hit a three-pointer with just over 10 minutes left in the period and Evergreen continued to push, retaking the lead on another Caskey jumper with 8:18 left to go in the opening session.
Both teams continued to play a pretty even game for the remaining minutes in the opening half as the Geoducks and Beacons traded the lead. Evergreeen held the advantage heading into the final minute but a three-point basket by NCU’s Katey Monteith nodded the game up at the break at 33 points apiece.
In the second half, it was the Beacons who were lighting up the scoreboard early as they opened the period on a 13-2 scoring run to take an 11-point advantage. The Geoducks finally warmed back up from the field but NCU continued to push the pace, maintaining the double- digit lead. NCU briefly took the lead into the 20s in the later stages of the period but Evergreen continued to fight until the very end, using a three-pointer by Caskey with just five seconds left to get back within 15 when the final buzzer sounded, dropping the CCC contest by a final score of 75-60.
Evergreen was led by 12 points from Caskey, who also added a pair of steals. Shavon Tate (Tacoma, Wash./Tacoma CC) and Shekia Hill (Steilacoom, Wash./Steilacoom HS) each added 11 while Swain brought down 15 rebounds to go with eight points before fouling out.
Northwest Christian, who shot 51.9% in the second half, was led by 16 points from Sheena Alexander. Hope Williams added 14 while Lindsey Shearer chipped in 12 points to go with a team-high nine rebounds. Aly Bruns rounded out the Beacons in double-digits as NCU got 60 of their 75 points from starters.
The Geoducks continue the road trip on Saturday when they swing into Salem to take on Corban. Tip-off with the Warriors is set for 5:30 p.m.
Game Stats
Upcoming Games
- Saturday, January 22 *at Corban College 5:30pm
- Friday, January 28 *at Northwest University 5:30pm
- Friday, February 4 (Home) *Oregon Institute of Technology 5:30pm
- Saturday, February 5 (Home) *Southern Oregon University 5:30pm
