EUGENE, Ore. – Turning the ball over 21 times, the No. 14 Northwest Christian University women's basketball team was never able to get things going on Sunday afternoon, falling to tenth-ranked Southern Oregon, 77-59.
 
The Beacons (20-4, 13-4) who have suffered all four of their losses to the two teams ahead of them in the Cascade Collegiate Conference standings, can finish no higher than third in the CCC as the Raiders (24-2, 15-3) claimed a top-two finish with the victory.
 
NCU shot 34% in the game and held SOU to just 37% but the Beacons were never able to find an answer for the strong back-court of the Raiders as starting guards Toria Bradford and Remi Mejia combined for 46 points, seven assists, and seven steals.
 
SOU was led by Mejia, scoring 25 points as she shot 9-for-18 from the field and hit five three-pointers. Bradford added 21 points while Ariel Augustine scored 17.
 
The Beacons were led by freshman Anamaria Virjoghe who was the only player in double-figures for NCU with 25 points, adding ten rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Niki Duncan and Kaylynn Bush scored nine points apiece while Conner Borigo came off the bench to score five points and a game-high five assists.
 
The Beacons can clinch third place in the CCC with just one more win and they will have their first opportunity on Wednesday night when they take on Corban University at 5:30 pm.