Box Score EUGENE, Ore. – Junior forward
Stormee Van Belle scored 19 points, eight of those coming in the first period, as the Mountaineers shook off a slow start and defeated NCU, 74-68, Saturday afternoon.
Senior guard
Donniesha Webber was the only other Mountaineer who scored in double-figures, finishing with 17 points, three rebounds and a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe. Junior guard
Maya Ah You-(Dias) chipped in nine points, four rebounds, and dished out four assists.
Northwest Christian had three players who scored in double-figures. Hanna Mack recorded a double-double scoring 19 points while snagging 12 boards.
The Beacons (11-7, 8-3 CCC) jumped out to an 11-6 run midway through the first period, but EOU (16-4, 9-2 CCC) would go on a 15-7 spurt, highlighted by Van Belle's two treys and capped off with a layup from senior guard
Ashley Knight.
The second frame proved to an even one, with both teams scoring 12 points apiece. With 2:43 remaining, the lead changed four times, but junior guard
Jessica Sexson's six points in the final 21 seconds, gave EOU a 33-30 lead at the intermission.
In the third period, a layup from Monique Thompson (4:44) cut the Mountaineer lead down to three (44-41). A minute later, a pair of free-throws by Webber gave the Blue and Gold a six-point cushion (47-41). The senior guard went 6-of-6 from the charity stripe down the stretch to end the quarter (55-48).
One last rally by NCU made it in interesting final frame. The Beacons outscored EOU 20-19, and got it as close as three points (64-61) with 3:31 on the clock. The Mountaineers were not phased. Webber and Van Belle combined for the final 10 points to seal the conference victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
36 – Combined points from Van Belle and Webber.
12 – Assists on 23 shots made for EOU.
30 – Points in the paint scored by the Mountaineers.
UP NEXT
EOU squares off against Corban tomorrow in Salem, Ore. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.