LEWISTON, Idaho – In a clash between the Cascade Conference's top two teams, No. 17 Eastern Oregon suffered just their second loss of the season, falling 68-59 to No. 13 Lewis-Clark State on Saturday night.
The game stayed close with momentum shifting between both teams, with the lead changing hands multiple times through three tightly contested quarters. Despite nearly doubling Lewis-Clark State's shot attempts, Eastern Oregon struggled to find consistency offensively, shooting just 33.8% from the field compared to the Warriors' efficient 56.8%.
The Mountaineers knocked down eight three-pointers on significantly more attempts, while Lewis-Clark State connected on five triples on far fewer shots, highlighting the Warriors' overall shooting efficiency. Free throws also proved to be a decisive factor, as LCSC capitalized on 14 Eastern Oregon personal fouls, converting all 13 of its attempts from the line. In contrast, the Mountaineers earned just four trips to the stripe, making three.
Eastern Oregon made its presence felt on the offensive glass, dominating 19-2 in offensive rebounds and turning those opportunities into 17 second-chance points. That advantage helped keep the Mountaineers within striking distance throughout much of the game.
The opening quarter saw Eastern Oregon take a slim 16-14 lead, before Lewis-Clark State responded with a 17-13 edge in the second. The Mountaineers found their rhythm offensively in the third quarter, shooting 53.3% from the field, while the Warriors maintained their steady efficiency. The teams were deadlocked at 19 points apiece in the third quarter, setting the stage for a decisive final period.
Lewis-Clark State seized control early in the fourth, erupting on an 18-0 run while Eastern Oregon went nearly four minutes without a basket. The Mountaineers mounted a late push, closing the game on an 8-0 run, but the comeback effort came too late as the Warriors held on for the victory.
Kelsie Siegner led all scorers with 25 points and added 10 rebounds—six on the offensive end—along with a block and two steals, shooting 44% from the floor.
Reigha Niemeyer contributed 11 points for Eastern Oregon.
Lewis-Clark State placed four players in double figures, led by Payton Hymas, who scored 17 points on 75% shooting. Darian Herring followed with 13 points and six assists while shooting 54.5% from the field.
With the loss, Eastern Oregon moves to 18-2 overall, while Lewis-Clark State improves to 15-4. Both teams now share first place in the Cascade Conference standings with matching 10-2 conference records.
The Mountaineers return home to host (RV)The College of Idaho on Tuesday, January 27,with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m. at Quinn Coliseum.
