ASHLAND, OR – No. 25 LC State nearly ended No. 2 Southern Oregon’s unbeaten streak in the Cascade Conference Championship on Tuesday. The Warriors were within two points in the second half but fell to the only undefeated team in the NAIA by a final of 56-49. LC State held SOU to its lowest field goal percentage of the season at 34.4% and lowest point total.
“A great defensive effort tonight by our team. We held them to their lowest point total of the year, and we have nothing to be ashamed of defensively,” coach Caelyn Orlandi said. “Unfortunately, against a team as good as Southern Oregon you have to make baskets and take care of the basketball. We came up short today in both those categories. I thought we got open looks, just couldn’t knock them down.”
Despite the loss, the Warrior women still receive automatic bid into the national tournament. SOU won the regular season title and earned the first bid. As the tournament runner up, LC State will also continue its season. The national tournament bracket will be announced on Thursday at 4 p.m.
“I never question our desire to win and our work ethic on the court. Proud of us for fighting every possession,” Orlandi added. “Southern Oregon is a talented team and has had a great season, but I know we are good too and are going to have a great postseason run. A fun Cascade Conference year and I look forward to what’s next.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mataya Green scored the first basket of the contest and LC State held SOU off the board for nearly three minutes before a 3-pointer gave the Raiders a 3-2 edge. After a scoring draught for both teams, SOU widened the margin to 5-2 midway through the quarter.
Payton Hymas gave the Warriors their second field goal and the Raiders answered with another 3 to make it 8-4 at 2:50. Green scored at 2:00, but a surge by Southern Oregon had the deficit at 14-6 after 10 minutes.
The Raiders continued their run and led 20-6 before Tatum Brager scored the first Warrior basket of the second frame. Hymas hit a 3 but SOU maintained control. Hymas scored again and Ellie Sander followed with two foul shots before a layup by Brager made it six straight LC State points.
Darian Herring kept the game within 10, 28-19, at 1:48, and that is where the game sat at halftime.
Byrd cut the difference to seven, 28-21, with a basket on the first possession of the third quarter. Sander tallied back-to-back baskets to make it 31-25 at 5:31 before a free throw by Green and an and-1 by Sander had the difference at two points a minute later.
SOU pushed the margin to 35-29 with 2:37 to play in the third and continued to grow its advantage. The Raiders led 40-31 with 10 minutes to play.
Lindsey Wilson and Byrd combined for a short run of five to keep the game within reach in the final frame. Another triple by Byrd had the Warriors within three, 42-39, at 6:53 and foul shots by Sander kept things within three with five minutes to go.
Despite baskets by Byrd, Hymas and Brager in the final minutes, the Raiders hung on to earn the conference title.
