EUGENE, Ore. – Southern Oregon University, the defending CCC champions, showed a little bit of why the advanced to the NAIA national title game last year, knocking off NCU 79-57 on Saturday night.
 
The Raiders (8-1, 2-0 CCC), currently ranked No. 5 in the NAIA, took a six-point lead into halftime and used a 21-7 margin in the third quarter to put the game out of reach. SOU finished the night shooting 47% from the field including a 10-for-24 clip from three-point range.
 
NCU (4-5, 1-1 CCC) shot 36% but outrebounded the Raiders 37-35. In the end it was 23 turnovers that were the Beacons undoing as Southern Oregon collected 14 steals.
 
Southern Oregon had four players in double figures, led by Autumn Durand with 14 points. She also led the game with six rebounds and four steals. Majerle Reeves hit four three-pointers off the bench for 12 points while Demi Sahlinger and Toria Bradford recorded ten points each.
 
The Beacons only player in double-digits was Katerina Brejchova with 10. Niki Duncan and Jenna Christenson had nine points apiece, as both women hit three trifectas. Monique Thompson ended her night with eight points, six rebounds and a game-high five steals.
 
NCU will return to the court next weekend, heading on the road to take on the College of Idaho on Friday. SOU will be in Monmouth on Monday night for a non-conference clash with Western Oregon before playing their first home conference game on Friday against Evergreen.