OLYMPIA, Wash. - Thanks to four starters scoring in double figures, the Corban University women's basketball team held off The Evergreen State College Geoducks on Friday evening, 65-51.  With the win, Corban remains undefeated in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) action after its first two contests, and for the Warriors, it is their fourth win in their last five games overall during the 2014-15 campaign.

Sophomore forward Sadie Pilgeram (Helena, Mont.) began the game for the Warriors by draining a shot from downtown, and junior guard Jade Lowery (Oregon City, Ore.) sank a pair of free throws after that to give the Navy and Gold the early 5-0 lead.  Evergreen then pulled even with five straight points, but junior guard Julia Young (Snohomish, Wash.) sank a three-ball to push Corban back in front.

The two sides went back and forth over the next several minutes, but the Navy and Gold used a large spurt midway through the first stanza capped by a Lowery three-pointer and a layup from senior center Tara Van Weerdhuizen (Spokane, Wash.), pushing the Warriors on top, 28-15.  By the halftime intermission, Corban led 32-21.

Corban shot 42.9% from the field during the first 20 minutes and 40.0% from beyond the arc, while Evergreen registered a 35.7% shooting mark from the floor and a 0-for-5 tally from three-point land.

The Geoducks cut the deficit to nine points right away in the second stanza, but Corban remained poised and built its lead back up steadily.  With 13:50 remaining in regulation, Corban led 47-31 thanks to another strong layup from Van Weerdhuizen and then another jumper from sophomore forward Payton Wilcox (Salem, Ore.) that she followed up with a three-pointer.

Evergreen once again fought back, making it a seven-point game with just over nine minutes left.  Corban's lead was then down to five points with five minutes left, but Van Weerdhuizen once again answered with a key layup to put the Warriors up seven.  Senior center Danielle Vanderstoel (Salem, Ore.) then notched one of her four blocks and converted on a layup opportunity to put the Warriors back up by nine.  Pilgeram put the nail in the coffin on the Geoducks with 1:24 left on the clock, sinking another shot from downtown, putting Corban in front by 12 points - an insurmountable lead at that point in the contest, leading to the eventual 14-point triumph.

For the game, the Navy and Gold shot 53.2% from the floor and 53.8% from beyond the arc.  Corban benefited from a efficient second half of shooting at 68.42% from the field as well as a perfect mark from downtown (3-for-3).  The Geoducks (6-4, 0-3 CCC) shot just 35.9% overall, and just 14.3% from three-point land (2-for-14).

Individually, Lowery led the way for Corban with 13 points and six assists, while Pilgeram added 12 points.  Young notched 11 points and Van Weerdhuizen scored 11 and grabbed nine boards.  In addition, Vanderstoel tallied four points and four blocks.

"We have struggled a number of times at Evergreen and we were determined to reduce their offensive rebounds and create a stressful offensive climate," stated head coach Dave Bale.  "We were successful in the first half and had timely threes from Sadie and Payton that helped hold them off.  We shot the ball very well and I was pleased with our defensive effort."

Corban (7-6, 2-0 CCC) returns to the hardwood tomorrow evening in Kirkland when it takes on Northwest University.  Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.