SALEM, Ore. – Two-time CCC defending champion Bushnell University opened up conference play with a big win on Tuesday, shutting down Corban University, 73-53.
 
An early 4-0 deficit was erased by nine straight Beacon points, and the visitors never trailed again, using a forceful pressure defense to collect 18 steals and score 38 points off turnovers. Bushnell (3-3, 1-0 CCC) out-rebounded the Warriors 43-34 and pulled in 17 offensive boards.
 
Head Coach Chad Meadors said, "This was a great way to go into the holiday break. We pressed significantly for the first time this year, and I thought we did a really good job forcing them to turn the ball over and offensively we did some really good things."
 
Bushnell finished the night shooting 43% from the floor and led by as many as 28 points late in the third quarter. Junior Aspen Slifka scored 20 points to lead the team, hitting three triples, along with seven steals and six assists. Bella Pedrojetti (pictured) and Kalina Rojas scored 12 each with Sarah Reinecker contributing 11.
 
Libby Mathis posted a team-high eight rebounds while Morgan McKinney filled the stat sheet once again with eight points, eight assists, six rebounds, and three steals.  
 
Meadors said, "Aspen has continued the trend of leading us in scoring, and Morgan has taken on the responsibility of scoring and distributing and just doing a little bit of everything. I love the way that Aly is coming along and learning on the job from the point guard perspective. Sarah and Bella both continue to shoot well, but the key tonight was getting some inside scoring from Kalina. She had her best game tonight as a Beacon and I am really excited to see her have some success."
 
Corban (1-6, 0-1) was led by Gemma LaVergne who scored a game-high 25 points and Holly Golenor who posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Corban shot 38% from the field.
 
Bushnell will return to action on December 3 as they travel to Portland to face Multnomah University in more Cascade Collegiate Conference action.