Box Score



LA GRANDE, Ore. – The No. 8 Eastern Oregon University women's basketball team used late free throws to beat The Evergreen State College Saturday, 54-53.

The Mountaineers (19-4, 11-2 Cascade Collegiate Conference) won their sixth straight game, and second straight game by one possession. EOU held off Northwest University Friday, 76-74. The win also sets up a clash of NAIA Div. 2 Top 15 teams Friday at Corban University in Salem, Ore. The winner of that game will have sole possession of first place in the conference standings.

Eastern's Dominique Johnson scored two of her game-high 21 points with 2.4 seconds remaining in regulation to give EOU the final one-point lead.

Johnson was 7-of-13 from the field, including 3-for-5 from behind the perimeter. The redshirt freshman was also 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Chayla Jones added nine points and eight rebounds. Jorie Freeman also had eight rebounds.

The Mountaineers were 38 percent from the field, 6-of-15 from three-point range, and 12-for-18 from the free-throw line. EOU also had a 32-31 rebound advantage. Eastern committed 14 turnovers, while Evergreen had 13.

The Geoducks led for much of the game, beginning with a 4-0 start. TESC led by as many as five points twice in the first half, including 26-21 at halftime. The first half featured four ties and six lead changes.

The Evergreen State College built its lead to 10 three times early in the second half, the latest after a Jessica Edge three-pointer made the score, 38-28. The Mountaineers responded with a 12-0 run capped by a Kyle Miller jump-shot to take a 40-38 lead with 10:28 left in regulation.

Another three-pointer from Edge with 7:48 left in the game gave the Geoducks a 44-40 advantage. EOU answered with a 5-0 run, ended with a Nicole Redd three-pointer. The lead would change six times in the final six minutes of play. After Johnson's free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining, TESC had its final shot fall short.

The Geoducks (4-18, 2-11) were led by Danielle Swain's 18 points and nine rebounds. The sophomore was 6-of-12 from the field. Edge finished with 13 points on 5-for-12 shooting from the field. She added a game-high four assists. Evergreen finished 42 percent from the field, 4-of-14 from behind the arc, and 11-for-21 from the free-throw line.

Eastern improved to 7-1 in games decided by five or less points this season. The Mountaineers are also now 15-0 against TESC all-time in La Grande.

Friday's tip-off at Corban (16-5, 10-2) for the EOU is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Evergreen welcomes Warner Pacific College (15-8, 9-3) Friday at 5:30 p.m.