SOFTBALL
Wednesday 2/1 at Western Oregon, 11:00 am (Livestats | Video Stream)
 
Bushnell opens the 2023 season on Wednesday in the same fashion they opened 2022, in Monmouth against the Wolves. Last season the Beacons dropped both of those games, 4-2 and 6-2, giving WOU a 12-0 advantage in the all-time series.
 
Six newcomers (five transfers and one freshman) join a group of 12 returners for the Beacons this season. CLICK HERE for a complete season preview.  
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Friday 2/3 at Lewis-Clark State, 5:00 pm (Livestats | Video Stream)
Saturday 2/4 at Walla Walla, 7:00 pm (Livestats | Video Stream)
 
Bushnell (15-6, 12-4 CCC) clinched a spot in the postseason this weekend with wins over Northwest and Evergreen. The Beacons currently sit in fourth place in the CCC standings.
 
CCC OUTLOOK: Three teams in the CCC are ranked among the Top-25 in the NAIA, No. 9 Lewis-Clark State (14-1), No. 16 Eastern Oregon (14-1) and No. 25 Southern Oregon (13-3) and make up the top three in the CCC standings. The Mountaineers moved into a tie for the top spot after an 85-79 overtime win over the ninth-ranked Warriors on Saturday.  
 
CCC RANKS: The Beacons ranks fourth in the conference in scoring, averaging 66.7 points per game. They rank fourth in field-goal percentage (.403) and fifth in three-point percentage (.308). Defensively, Bushnell ranks fourth in the CCC, allowing 59.9 points per contest.
 
Bella Pedrojetti leads the Beacons in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game and ranks sixth in the conference in three-point shooting, making 35.9% of attempts on the season. She has reached double-digit scoring in all but four games, including a career-high 24 points at Evergreen.
 
Aspen Slifka ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game, and ranks among the top-10 in steals per game (2^nd – 2.2) and block per game (10^th – 0.9). The junior has recorded at least three steals in eight straight contests.  
 
Libby Mathis ranks second in the CCC in field-goal percentage, making 52.5% of her shots. The junior is averaging 8.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks (4^th in CCC) per game. Kalina Rojas is averaging 7.4 points per game and leads the Beacons in rebounding, averaging 7.2 per game.
 
MILESTONE WATCH: Aspen Slifka moved into third on Bushnell's all-time scoring list, passing Lindsey Shearer (1,206). Slifka (1,221) needs just 16 points to pass Emily Gray (1,236).  
 
LEWIS-CLARK STATE: The Warriors (19-2, 14-1 CCC) dropped their first game of conference play to No. 16 Eastern Oregon over the weekend, snapping a 19-game winning streak. LC led 27-12 in the first quarter before the Mountaineers battled back and forced overtime to earn the 85-79 victory.
 
The Warriors rank second in the conference in scoring, averaging 73.4 points per game, and are second defensively, giving up 57 points per contest. LC leads the conference in the fewest turnovers, committing just 12 per game.
 
LC State is led by junior guard Callie Stevens, who is averaging 15 points (4^th in CCC) and 3.6 assists per game (3^rd). Hannah Broyles is averaging 13.1 points per game (9^th), while Ellie Sander is adding 11.1 points and 2.2 steals (2^nd) per contest.
 
The Warriors have won all six meetings with the Beacons, including a 74-58 win this season.
 
WALLA WALLA: The Wolves (4-14, 3-12 CCC) continue their fight for a spot in the postseason as they sit in 10^th in the standings and are just one game behind Evergreen (4-11) and Northwest (4-11).
 
WWU ranks 11^th in the conference in points per game (54.6) and are eighth defensively, allowing 62.9 points per contest. The Wolves commit the second fewest turnovers in the conference at 14.5 per game, but are last in rebounding, averaging 32.1 boards per game.  
 
Jaliyah Casem and Chariha Daniels lead the Wolves in scoring and both rank among the top-five in the conference. Casem is averaging 16 points (2^nd) per game, while Daniels is posting 15.1 points per game (3^rd) on 50.8% shooting (4^th in CCC). Daniels is also the top rebounder in the CCC, recording 11.8 per game.
 
The Beacons are 22-0 in the all-time series with the Wolves and took the first round game, 66-59.
 
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Friday 2/3 at Lewis-Clark State, 7:00 pm (Livestats | Video Stream)
Saturday 2/4 at Walla Walla, 9:00 pm (Livestats | Video Stream)
 
Momentum is on their side as the Beacons (10-12, 8-8 CCC) have won three straight and four of their last five games. The next two weeks are a solid road test, beginning this weekend at LC State and Walla Walla.
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: The accolades and records continue to pour in for junior Stevie Schlabach. This was a banner week for the junior, and he was named CCC Player of the Week for his efforts. Over the weekend, he not only set a new school-record for field goals, but he also moved into third-place on Bushnell's all-time scoring list. Congratulations Stevie!
 
CCC OUTLOOK: With their current upswing, the Beacons have climbed into sixth-place in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, tied with LC State. Bushnell is two games out of fifth and one game ahead of both Multnomah and Oregon Tech who are tied for eighth. No. 1 College of Idaho remains alone in first place and undefeated in the CCC and could clinch the regular-season championship as soon as this weekend.  
 
CONFERENCE/NAIA RANKS: The Beacons are currently ranked third in the CCC in scoring (82 points per game) and ninth in defense (79 ppg allowed). Bushnell leads the conference in defensive three-point percentage as opponents are hitting just 30.5% of their deep shots. The Beacons remain No. 2 in the conference and third in the NAIA in free-throw percentage (.790).
 
Individually, Spencer Hoffman is fifth in the conference in scoring (15.9 ppg) while Stevie Schlabach is 9th (15.5). Hoffman is also third in rebounding (9.1 rpg) and fourth in field goal percentage (.586).  Schlabach leads the conference in three-point percentage (.500) and is third for free-throw shooting (.893).  
 
LEWIS-CLARK STATE: The Warriors (10-11, 7-8) have had an up-and-down season, but with a win over Walla Walla on Tuesday will have won four of their last five games heading into Friday's battle for sixth-place.
 
LC State's strength lies in their defense as they are third in the CCC allowing 72.8 points per game. Offensively, they rankninth with 74.5 ppg. Davian Brown is the scoring leader for the Warriors, averaging 15.6 points per game.
 
Bushnell is still looking for their first win ever against Lewis-Clark State, who holds a 6-0 advantage. The Warriors won in Eugene last month, 88-78 after coming back from a second-half deficit.
 
WALLA WALLA: The Wolves (1-18, 1-14) are currently tied for last in the CCC with Evergreen, having recently defeated the Geoducks for their first win of the season. The Wolves are 12^th in the conference in scoring (66.5 ppg) and 11^th in defense (93.6 ppg allowed).
 
Caleb Golden (11.0 ppg) leads the team and is ranked 29^th in the CCC in scoring. 95-84
 
Bushnell won the first meeting of the season back in December, 95-84. Spencer Hoffman dominated that contest with 28 points, shooting 11-for-12 from the field.
 
The Beacons are 14-2 all-time against Walla Walla, and have won 12 of the last 13 meetings.
 
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Sunday, 2/5 at University of Portland (Livestats)
Sunday, 2/5 at George Fox (Livestats)
 
A large contingent of Beacon athletes will head to the Portland area this weekend for a pair of meets.
 
At George Fox, Bushnell will see action in the 60m, 60m hurdles, long jump, and shot put. Among the athletes set to make their collegiate debuts will be Kylee Dickman, Leah Schiewe, and Nathan Fields.
 
At the University of Portland, it will be the first distance competition for the Beacons this spring, including runners in the 800m, one-mile, and 3000m events. Time permitting, a number of athletes will head over to Portland after competing in Newberg to battle in the 4x400m relays.