SALEM, Ore. – A last-second shot from Northwest Christian University's Monique Thompson tied the contest and sent the game into overtime, and that is where the Beacons prevailed by three points over the Corban University women's basketball team on Tuesday night, 68-65. For NCU, it is its third-straight victory over the Warriors dating back to last year.
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After a hard-fought battle during the first two quarters that saw Corban go in front at the half, 31-29, NCU came out with stifling defense in the third quarter and outscored the Warriors 20-6 in the period to take a commanding lead into the fourth.
Then with eight minutes remaining in regulation, Corban junior forward Payton Wilcox (Salem, Ore.) began the Warriors' rally, converting on a layup opportunity to bring Corban to with 10. Senior guard Jade Lowery (Oregon City, Ore.) then drained a shot from distance with 6:22 left to make it a 7 point game, and another long-range shot from junior guard Annie Owen (Corvallis, Ore.) brought the Warriors to within four points.
NCU continued to make big shots down the stretch as well, however, maintaining its lead, but back to back threes from senior guard Julia Young (Snohomish, Wash.) and Lowery made it a two-point game with four minutes remaining.
Corban eventually found itself down by one point with 10 seconds left, and that is when Warrior junior forward Sadie Pilgeram (Helena, Mont.) sank another Corban three-pointer, putting the Warriors up by two points as the clock was ticking down.
Racing down the floor the other way, NCU's Thompson hit one of the biggest shots of her life, banking in a running jumper with about one second left, sending the contest to overtime.
Ultimately, the Beacons prevailed in the extra period and held on despite Corban getting one last-second look at the rim to tie the game, but the shot did not fall, resulting in the heartbreaking three-point loss for the Warriors.
Lowery led the way for Corban with 26 points and 10 assists, while Young, Wilcox, and Pilgeram all chipped in with eight points apiece. As a team, Corban shot just 36.1% from the field, while NCU shot 41.5% overall. The Warriors did make 10 three-pointers on the night, keeping themselves in the game with the long-range efforts.
For NCU (7-5, 3-2 CCC), Niki Duncan totaled a team-best 15 points, while Thompson registered a 14-point performance with five boards in the victory.
"The Warriors fought and if it wasn't for a drought in the third quarter and a very uncharacteristic free-throw night, we might have seen a different result," said Corban head women's basketball coach, Dave Bale. "You have to keep all pistons firing, and we did some really good things like rebounding and controlling their inside presence for most of the game, but we just couldn't hit our shots in the third quarter. We played very good defense and rebounded the ball really well."
Corban (5-8, 1-4 CCC) returns to the hardwood on December 31 when it hosts Walla Walla University. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
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