SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University women's basketball team picked up its 10th victory in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play and completed the series sweep over Concordia University, 75-64, on Friday night at the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center. The Warriors used a 7-2 run in the opening minutes of the second stanza and some key baskets down the stretch to seal the victory.
Senior center Tara Van Weerdhuizen (Spokane, Wash.) paced Corban (16-10, 10-4 CCC) with her ninth double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while sophomore forward Sadie Pilgeram (Helena, Mont.) added 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting.
"The Warriors had to play tonight as Concordia was not going to let us get out of the blocks like we did in Portland a month ago," said head coach Dave Bale. "I was proud how we adjusted and kept our composure."
The opening five minutes included four lead changes, as both teams were red-hot from the field. After junior guard Jade Lowery (Oregon City, Ore.) knocked down a jumper to give the Warriors an 11-6 lead, the Cavaliers responded with a trio of unanswered three-pointers to take a 15-11 lead with 14:06 left in the first half.
Concordia (11-11, 5-8 CCC) maintained the advantage for the next six minutes before Van Weerdhuizen scored back-to-back buckets to give Corban a 25-24 lead with 7:47 left in the opening stanza. The Cavaliers managed to hang close with the Warriors for the next five minutes, but that's when Pilgeram got hot. In a span of 33 seconds, the Montana native drilled back-to-back three's to give Corban a 39-31 lead with 1:04 left in the first frame. After sophomore center Keleigh Hoopes scored a layup for the Cavaliers, Pilgeram scored again in the final seconds to give the Navy and Gold a 41-33 halftime lead.
After the game, Pilgeram spoke with the Sports Information Office about her key three-pointers at the end of the first half.
As a team, the Warriors shot 53.3% from the field (16-for-30) during the first 20 minutes, while the Cavaliers tossed in a 44.8% (13-for-29) clip. Both teams shared the ball offensively, as Corban dished out nine assists while Concordia had seven as a team. Pilgeram led the Navy and Gold with 10 first-half points, while sophomore guard Lexi Campbell directed the Cavaliers' offense with 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting.
"We had an excellent first half from the starters with each contributing in different ways," commented Bale. "Chris and Kat supplied the answer to slow down the rain of three's the Cavaliers started the game with."
In the second half, Pilgeram remained hot from the field, causing a Cavaliers' turnover and then making them pay by hitting a shot from downtown to put Corban up by 13 (46-33) with 19:32 left in the contest. Concordia made a run of its own, however, quickly cutting the Warrior lead to just six points (48-42) with 14:13 remaining. Van Weerdhuizen provided the answer for Corban, as she scored the next three baskets to give the Warriors a 54-46 lead.
After Concordia got to as close as four (59-55), Lowery found sophomore forward Payton Wilcox (Salem, Ore.) for the layup, and then Wilcox returned the favor, as she dished to Lowery on the fast break to give Corban a 63-55 advantage with 7:56 on the clock. Concordia, which had stuck around with its hot shooting and aggressive offense, missed six of its final nine shots and coughed up three turnovers to fall behind in the final minutes.
With 1:31 left to play, senior guard Haley Holboke (Vancouver, Wash.) scored a layup to give the Warriors a 73-62 lead, and following a Cavalier bucket, Lowery nailed a jumper to with just over a minute left to keep Concordia at bay.
Lowery finished the evening with 13 points and five assists on 5-for-11 shooting. Junior guard Julia Young (Snohomish, Wash.) and senior center Danielle Vanderstoel (Salem, Ore.) tallied eight points apiece, while Wilcox and junior guard Chris Carlson (Silver Lake, Wash.) registered four points each.
Freshman guard Sierra Dean came off the bench to pace the Cavaliers with 14 points on 6-for-14 shooting, while Campbell added 12 points, all of which she scored in the first half.
The Warriors shot 50.8% (30-for-59) from the field, while the Cavaliers launched a 42.4% (25-for-59) clip. Corban also outrebounded Concordia, 40-31, en route to the victory.
"We shot the ball really well from the field, we out-rebounded them, and we kept our turnovers down, and when you do that it generally ends in a positive way for you," stated Bale. "I was really proud how everyone played! Our good week of practice transferred to the game tonight."
The Warriors return to action tomorrow evening when it hosts Warner Pacific College at the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
