Cavaliers Clip Eagles 72-67 Behind Balanced Attack

After being outrebounded 24-14 in the first half, the Eagles reversed the trend by grabbing a 26-16 edge in boards in the second half to create one last comeback effort.

Salem-News.com Sports Photo: Sarah Eischen/Concordia University

PORTLAND, Ore. - A day after relying on Danielle Clauson for nearly 50 percent of the teams scoring, eight players scored at least six points to help Concordia University upend Northwest University 72-67 in women’s basketball action on Saturday.

With the win, Concordia moved to 13-11 on the season and 9-5 in Cascade Collegiate Conference games while Northwest dropped to 2-20 overall and 1-13 in CCC play. Northwest obtained its lone league play with a 62-58 win on Nov. 30 to start the conference slate.

Poor shooting characterized the first half of the opening period with Concordia hitting just 3-of-13 attempts and the Eagles converting 2-of-11 before the first media timeout at the 11:41 mark.

With the score set at 11-9 in Concordia’s favor, the Cavaliers finished the half connecting on 12 of their next 17 shots to boost its success rate to 50 percent for the half en route to a 38-28 lead entering intermission.

Seven different players registered a point for the Cavs while the Eagles relied on the trio of Brittany Bowsher (Issaquah, Wash.), Rachel Travis (North Bend, Wash.) and Erika Hornyak (Everett, Wash.) for all of its points in the first half.

Returning to the court in the second, Maryam Razavi (Tualatin, Ore.) provided the Cavs with two quick jumpers to extend its lead to 14 with the score 42-28 before a 9-2 run would cut the deficit back to a manageable seven points for the Eagles.

Behind buckets from four different players, Concordia would respond with an 8-2 run to move to a 13-point advantage with 11:28 remaining.

After being outrebounded 24-14 in the first half, the Eagles reversed the trend by grabbing a 26-16 edge in boards in the second half to create one last comeback effort.

Hornyak’ second three pointer of the half with two minutes remaining brought the Eagles to within three with the score 67-64 but a bullet pass by Razavi leading to a Kelsey Schaefer (Vancouver, Wash.) layup with 63 seconds left and success from the free throw line iced the game for the Cavaliers.

Concordia shot 47.5 percent from the field for the game compared to 33.9 percent for the visiting Eagles. Northwest connected on 8-of-23 from beyond the three-point line while the Cavs hit just 2-of-7 from behind the arc.

Travis led the court with 20 points and five assists. Three players reached double figures in scoring for Concordia with Razavi and Denise Benedict (Ridgefield, Wash.) each collecting a dozen points for the team lead. Danielle Clauson (Edmonds, Wash./King’s H.S.) tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds for her third double-double of her freshman campaign.

Concordia will next face conference leader Eastern Oregon when they travel to La Grande, Oregon, on February 8th. Northwest will travel to The Evergreen State College on February 5th.

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