EUGENE, Ore. – Southern Oregon University pulled away late in the fourth quarter to earn a 64-56 road victory over Bushnell University in Friday's Cascade Collegiate Conference women's basketball contest.
A highlight of the night included a new single-season rebounding record for junior
Libby Mathis. With her fifth board of the game, Mathis recorded her 281
st rebound of the year, passing Lindsey Shearer (280) who set the previous record in 2012.
Head Coach
Chad Meadors said, "These are great games whenever we play Southern Oregon. These are tough ones to lose but I'm proud of our players and how we battled defensively. I feel like we are still getting better as we wind down the season and just need a little momentum. I'm looking forward to celebrating Aly and Aspen tomorrow for senior night."
Bushnell (15-10, 11-8 CCC) had a strong opening quarter, shooting 63.6% from the field to take an early 15-10 lead. Southern Oregon (21-4, 17-2) answered with a 17-8advantage in the second period, hitting five threes in the frame to go up 27-23 at the half.
A three-pointer from
Mandy Sisul put the Beacons up by three, 47-44, early in the fourth quarter but the Raiders followed with a decisive 15-2 run to grab a 59-49 advantage with just a minute and a half to go. The Beacons would get as close as six as the Raiders closed out the victory.
Aspen Slifka led all players with a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double. Sisul finished with 18 points, hitting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and
Aly Mirabile recorded eight points.
Kami Walk led SOU in scoring, finishing with 19 points on the night. Izzy Hernadez tallied 15 points, while Meghan McIntyre added 12 points and five assists. Emma Schmerbach recorded eight points and eight rebounds off the bench.
The Raiders shot 37.3% as a team, including 9-of-23 from deep, and made 11-of-26 at the free throw line. The Beacons finished 42.6% from the floor, including 5-of-18 from three, and went 11-of-15 at the free throw line. Bushnell held a 35-32 edge in rebounding.
Up next, Bushnell hosts No. 25 Oregon Tech for Senior Day. Slifka and Mirabile will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
