EUGENE, Ore. – The best season in school history was ended on Friday night as the fourth-seeded Beacons were knocked out of the Cascade Collegiate Conference championship tournament semifinals by top-seed Southern Oregon University, 92-62.
 
In just his second season at the helm, head coach Heath Alexander guided the Beacons to their best finish in school history as the team took fourth place in the CCC. The team won a school-record 19 games, a best-ever 13 conference games and broke a number of other records along the way.
 
Among the season records broken by the 2015-2016 squad: Most points (1984), most blocks (194), best defensive field goal percentage (.342), most 3-pointers made and attempted, and highest 3-pt shooting percentage (.327). It was a strong defensive season for the Beacons as they held their opponents to 50 or fewer points in 11 different games.
 
In addition, numerous individual records were set by the Beacons. Sophomore Niki Duncan hit 63 three-pointers to establish a new single-season best. Duncan and backcourt mate Sami Pitts (56) both eclipsed the previous record of 55 set by Aly Bruns in 2012. Pitts also claimed NCU's career record for three-pointers and also topped Bruns in the category. She scored three triples on Friday night to narrowly claim the record with 133.
 
In 2010, Jackie Cunningham had 36 blocks to set the NCU school record. That mark fell by the wayside in December and was doubled-up by junior Hanna Mack who finished the year with 72. Andrea Gloss also defeated the previous record as she blocked 59 shots on the season. For Gloss, already the career record holder after her junior season, this brought her career tabulation to 150. She became the only player in school history to finish her career with more than 900 points, 500 rebounds, and 100 blocks.
 
As for the game, the Raiders (28-1), ranked No. 5 in the NAIA national coaches poll, pulled away from NCU in the second quarter and took a 45-22 lead into halftime. The Beacons kept things competitive in the second half, but it wasn't enough to defeat the top-seed.
 
Southern Oregon was led by Ashley Claussen, scoring 20 points and Carly Meister with 16 points and ten rebounds.
 
Pitts put an exclamation mark on her career, leading the Beacons with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists. Gloss also ended on a high note with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and her final four blocks. Chandler Gabrio closed out her four-year stint with NCU scoring 11 points and adding two steals.
 
Coach Alexander said, "I am very proud of my seniors and what they have accomplished. When we got here two years ago we were picked at the bottom of the league. Now we are competing with the top teams in this conference and that is because of their hard work and leadership. Thank you Chandler, Sami, Boogs, Meesh, and Dre."