BOX SCORE
WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Junior Tara Vanweerdhuizen tallied team-high totals of 11 points and eight rebounds, as Corban's women's basketball team closed out play at this weekend's Kim Evanger Raney Classic with a 77-48 loss at the hands of the Pirates of Whitworth Saturday inside the Sherwood Center.
Corban (5-7) had only one player score in double figures, as sophomore
Megan Benedict added nine points on a trifecta of shots from beyond the three-point line for the second night in a row. The sophomore tandem of
Julia Young and
Jade Lowery added six points each, while Lowery also handed out a team-high three assists to go along with a game-high three blocked shots by Vanweerdhuizen.
Whitworth (4-3) had three players score in double figures led by Lexie Zappone with a game-high 21 points, while KC McDonnell and Kayla Johnson added 15 and 12 points, respectively. Zappone and Katara Belton-Sharp led all players with a game-high nine rebounds, while Kendra Knutsen handed out a game-high four assists for the Pirates.
The game began with Whitworth scoring the opening 18 points over a nine-plus minute span before Corban finally got on the board with a three-pointer by Benedict at the 10:46 mark. The Pirates would continue to hold a double-digit lead for the remainder of the first half, as Whitworth built its lead to as much as 25 points (32-7) on a free throw by Zappone with 2:50 on the clock. Over the final two minutes, Corban outscored Whitworth by four points resulting in a 21-point deficit (39-18) at halftime after Lowery nailed a three-pointer for the final points of the first half.
At the start of the second half, Whitworth pushed its lead to 24 points (47-23) with an 8-5 run over the opening three minutes. Corban would get back within 19 points (60-41) after an 18-13 run concluded on a three-pointer by Benedict at the 8:18 mark. Unfortunately that would be as close as the Warriors would get, as Whitworth extended its lead to a game-high 30 points (75-45) on a lay-in by Zappone with 1:46 on the clock. Over the final few minutes, Corban scored one more point than Whitworth resulting in the final margin of 29 points (77-48).
As a team, Corban combined to shoot 15-for-63 (23.8%) from the field that included a 5-for-20 (25.0%) performance from beyond the three-point line and a 13-for-19 (68.4%) showing at the free throw line. On the other hand, Whitworth was a combined 28-for-66 (42.4%) from the field, 8-for-24 (33.3%) from long distance, and 13-for-18 (72.2%) at the charity stripe.
Corban will return to action on Friday, December 20th, when the Warriors return to Cascade Collegiate Conference play against the visiting Geoducks of The Evergreen State College beginning at 5:30 p.m. inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center in Salem.
