SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University women's basketball team could not recover from 23 turnovers and a cold shooting night as the Warriors fell to the Beacons of Northwest Christian University, 63-53, on Saturday night at the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center. Despite the loss, the Navy and Gold will host a Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Tournament game against Northwest Christian on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Playing in her final regular season home contest on Senior Night, Nicole Luce (Kent, Wash.) made the most of her first-career start, converting on her first two shots of the contest, giving Corban the early 4-2 lead. For Luce, while only a sophomore, she is set to graduate this spring.
Senior center Tara Van Weerdhuizen (Spokane, Wash.) also started the game strong for the Warriors, making an early jumper. The Beacons responded, however, nabbing a 10-9 advantage at the 13-minute mark.
Northwest Christian's Melyssa Weber continued the Beacons' strong start early on, attacking the hoop and getting the Warriors into foul trouble.
Turnovers plagued Corban during the first 10 minutes, as the Warriors coughed up the ball on a number of occasions, resulting in fast-break opportunities for Northwest Christian.
Senior center Danielle Vanderstoel (Salem, Ore.) provided a nice response for the Navy and Gold following a number of close misses, converting on a strong layup inside to cut into a five-point deficit. Corban then began to pick up its defensive pressure, nabbing a pair of steals that led to quality opportunities for the Warriors.
Vanderstoel continued her strong Senior Night, grabbing her own rebound on a missed free throw, ultimately finishing again at the rack with a strong left-handed take.
After that though, NCU's Allie Kelsey sank a shot from downtown for the Beacons, putting the road squad up by six points with five minutes left in the half. Warrior junior guard Jade Lowery (Oregon City, Ore.) brought Corban back to within three when she spun and scored on a difficult shot in the paint.
Senior guard Katherine Salness (Portland, Ore.) brought Corban to within one point late in the half, converting a three-point play the hard way with the layup and free throw.
At the halftime intermission, the Beacons held the slight advantage, 31-30. During those first 20 minutes, Corban shot 36.0% from the field, while NCU shot 37.5% overall. Both teams turned the ball over on a number of occasions, with Corban tallying 11 and NCU registering 10.
Lowery started the second half strong for the Warriors, giving Corban the lead at the 18-minute mark when she nailed a long jump shot. Sophomore forward Sadie Pilgeram (Helena, Mont.) made a running jumper not long after, keeping the contest tight in a one-point game.
Chandler Gabrio went to work down low for the Beacons in the second stanza, scoring on a left-handed layup inside to keep NCU in front by four points.
Struggling to find its offensive rhythm, Warrior senior guard Haley Holboke (Vancouver, Wash.) pulled Corban back to within two points after sinking a contested jumper in the paint midway through the second stanza.
For every big bucket Corban scored, however, the Beacons had the answer. NCU extended its advantage to 47-42 with 7:24 remaining in regulation.
At the 2:51 mark, the Beacons had built their lead to nine points at 54-45.
Junior guard Julia Young (Snohomish, Wash.) nailed Corban's first three-pointer of the contest with just over a minute left, but the Beacons immediately answered, ultimately finishing the Warriors off for the 10-point road triumph.
As a team, Corban shot just 29.8% (17-for-57) from the field, while NCU registered a 35.4% (23-for-65) shooting mark for the game. Although the Warriors outrebounded the Beacons, 55-43, the Navy and Gold tallied only six assists on the night.
Vanderstoel led the way for the Navy and Gold with her first-career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Lowery added 10 points off the bench. Sophomore forward Payton Wilcox (Salem, Ore.) recorded six points and four rebounds, while Van Weerdhuizen compiled five points and 11 boards.
For the Beacons, Weber led the way offensively with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Gabrio finished the night with 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting.
"On a special night for five very special young ladies and their teammates, it was a disappointing way to finish the conference season," said head coach Dave Bale. "But the season is not over and their resolve in the post-game meeting has once again shown me their character. We ran our stuff and had good looks, but the ball just refused to find the bottom of the net. We have two days to prepare for them and I have no doubt the ladies will be ready."
Corban (17-13, 11-7 CCC) returns to the hardwood on Tuesday, February 24, when it hosts the Beacons (12-14, 8-10 CCC) in a CCC Tournament Quarterfinal contest. Corban is playing as the No. 3 seed, while Northwest Christian is the No. 6 seed. Tipoff in the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center is set for 7 p.m.
