SALEM, Ore. – Sophomore Danielle Swain (Rainier, Wash./Black Hills HS) hit new school records in blocks and rebounds but the Evergreen Geoducks fell to the 10th-ranked Corban Warriors, 60-48, in the first round of the 2012 Cascade Collegiate Conference women’s basketball tournament on Tuesday night at C.E. Jeffers Sports Center in Salem, Ore.

The Geoducks (7-21) took the initial lead as Swain layed the ball up just 34 seconds in as Evergreen showed 10th-ranked Corban (22-6) that the green and white came to play.  The game remained a see-saw battle for most of the early minutes as neither team was able to build much of a lead as both teams were strong on defense, including a block by Swain at the 12:45 mark that was her 49th of the season to set a new school record for blocks in a season.

Corban slowly began to build at lead as the Warriors had a much easier time finding baskets in the opening period but Evergreen kept fighting as the Geoducks tied it up at 20 following a steal by Swain with about three minutes remaining in the first half.  The game stayed tied until the final seconds as Corban’s Emily Tsugawa hit a three-pointer with eight seconds left to give the Warriors a slim 23-20 lead at the break.

The second half started off just like the first as the Geoducks kept the defensive pressure on the Warriors but Corban continued to hold onto the lead.  The Warrior crept near double-digits towards the 12 minutes mark but Swain picked up another new record as the sophomore picked up her sixth rebound of the night following a missed three-pointer by Shayla Fetters with 11:49 left to play, giving Swain her 271st rebound of the season.

Corban’s lead slipped into double-digits just under the 10 minute mark but it didn’t last long as the Geoducks pulled within seven points with 8:35 left on the clock.  The Warriors tried to pull away as the clock ticked away but Evergreen answered back yet again, forcing Corban to battle to the very end before taking the 60-48 win.

Evergreen was led by 16 points from Swain, who also had eight rebounds and four steals, as well as her record-setting block.  Sami Clark (Monroe, Wash./Edmonds CC) added 11 points.  As a team, the Geoducks outrebounded the Warriors, 43-38, and forced 22 Corban turnovers in the season finale.

Corban was led by 16 points from Shayla Fetters and 13 points from Tsugawa.  The Warriors picked up 15 blocks on the night, including four off the bench by Tess Bennett.   As a team, Corban shot 50% from the field, sinking 22 of 44 attempts, as they moved on in the postseason tournament.

The Geoducks finish the year with a record of 7-21 but having earned their first trip to the CCC tournament since 2007-08.  Evergreen graduates just one player as senior Mele Rich (Lakewood, Wash./Pierce College) is the only Geoduck set to depart this spring.

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