SALEM, Ore. – In the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament semifinal, second-seeded and No. 14 Eastern Oregon fell to third-seeded and No. 17 Lewis-Clark State College, 70-57. A decisive 22-7 third quarter by the Warriors shifted the momentum, and the Mountaineers were unable to recover as their CCC Tournament run came to an end.
Eastern opened the game with energy, building an 18-9 first-quarter advantage. After Lewis-Clark State scored the opening basket, the Mounties answered with six straight points to take control. The teams traded buckets through the remainder of the period before Eastern closed on a brief five point run to maintain its lead.
The Warriors found their rhythm in the second quarter, trimming into the deficit behind timely shooting and capitalizing on Mountie turnovers. Lewis-Clark converted key opportunities at the free-throw line and knocked down a three-pointer to generate momentum, but Eastern maintained its composure and carried a 34-30 lead into halftime.
The turning point came in the third quarter. Lewis-Clark State erupted for a 22-7 run, taking advantage of turnovers and foul trouble that disrupted Eastern's offensive flow. The Warriors shot 8-of-20 in the period, including three makes from beyond the arc, while adding points at the free-throw line. On the defensive end, they held the Mounties to just 3-of-15 shooting and 0-of-6 from three-point range. The surge gave LCSC a 52-41 advantage heading into the final quarter.
Lewis-Clark State extended its lead to as many as 14 midway through the fourth. Eastern continued to battle, but turnovers and missed opportunities prevented a late rally as the Warriors secured the 70-57 victory.
LCSC shot 40.6% from the field and turned Eastern's miscues into 26 points while adding nine second-chance points. The Mounties shot 38.3% from the floor and connected on three three-pointers. Both teams scored 38 points in the paint in the physical contest. Eastern held a 43-37 rebounding edge and added 11 assists and 16 bench points in the effort.
Payton Hymas led the Warriors with 21 points, while Darian Herring added 20. Lindsey Wilson recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Kali Kast paced Eastern with 20 points on 50% shooting, and
Kelsie Siegner contributed 14 points and a block.
The Mountaineers conclude their conference tournament run with a 25-5 overall record. Despite the semifinal loss, Eastern Oregon remains in contention for a national tournament berth. If CCC co-champion Corban University secures the tournament title, Eastern would receive the second automatic bid. The Mounties also remain in the at-large conversation as a nationally ranked team.
