SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University women's basketball team nearly completed an impressive comeback on Saturday, erasing a 14-point deficit to make a nail-biter of its afternoon matinee against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The visiting Eagles would end up regaining the lead and outlasting the Navy and Gold in a back-and-forth final period, however, eventually walking away with an 82-73 victory.

"This team showed a ton of fight and relentlessness," said head coach Bill Pilgeram. "I was very proud of the effort and comeback to give us a chance to win."

Similar to yesterday's contest, the Warriors were put in a position where they had to dig themselves out of an early hole, trailing by as many as 14 in the second period, and entering the locker room down by nine.

The resilient squad outscored the Eagles 19-13 in an electric third quarter, however, even managing to take the lead with 5:16 left in the final stanza. Unfortunately for the Navy and Gold, a handful of clutch baskets down the stretch helped the visitors retake the lead and withstand the Warriors' comeback bid.

Aryana Gonzalez was absolutely stellar off the bench for Embry-Riddle, dropping 27 points and notching seven steals to propel the Eagle offense. Ella Schott (17 points, six rebounds) and Meghan Strickler (10 points) also turned in valuable efforts.

For the second-straight night, Gemma LaVergne registered a new career-high for Corban, scoring 33 points on 12-of-24 shooting (7-of-15 3PT). That's the most points by a Warrior since February 19, 2019 (41, Jordan Woodvine), and she also added six boards and a pair of assists.

Holly Golenor finished just a rebound shy of her second-straight double-double (13 points, nine rebounds, three assists) in the defeat, while senior Kaci Paffhausen stepped up with a career-high 10 points and five boards.

The Warriors (1-5) will kick off Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) competition next week, hosting defending CCC Champion Bushnell University on Tuesday evening. Tip-off inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center is slated for 5:30 p.m.