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May 28, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels February 23, 2004 Raider women enter make-it-or-break it play By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings The Southern Oregon University women's basketball team will travel to Kirkland, Wash., Tuesday, to take on Northwest in the first round of the Cascade Conference tournament. The seventh-seeded Raiders (8-17 overall, 7-11 CC) and second-seeded Eagles (18-12, 13-5) will tip-off at 7:30 p.m., with the winner advancing to the semifinals to play either third-seeded Warner Pacific (18-11, 13-5) or sixth-seeded Evergreen (11-21, 8-10). On the other side of the eight-team bracket, top-seeded Eastern Oregon (23-2, 17-1) hosts eighth-seeded Albertson (8-16, 7-11), and fourth-seeded Oregon Tech (19-9, 13-5) hosts fifth-seeded Western Baptist (14-13, 9-9). Last chance The Cascade Conference tournament represents Southern Oregon's last ditch effort to advance to the NAIA Division II championships. Eastern Oregon grabbed one of the league's two automatic national tournament berths by capturing the Cascade Conference regular season championship. The league's other automatic berth will go to the highest-placing tourney team other than Eastern Oregon. That means the Raiders will have to win at least two playoff games and possibly three to extend their season. "I don't think (the Raiders) are nervous because we've talked about this all year," said third-year Raider coach Kevin Wilson, who guided SOU to nationals in each of his first two seasons. "Everybody's 0-0, so anything can happen and that's how we really have approached it." Southern Oregon and Northwest split the season series, with each team winning on its home court. The Raiders were throttled 85-64 in Kirkland, Wash., on Jan. 2, but pulled out an 86-80 victory over the Eagles Jan. 31 in Ashland. Northwest features the No. 2 offense in the conference (74.2 points per game) led by possibly its best player - forward Jennifer DeYoung. The 5-foot-10 freshman out of Redmond High School is the league's top scorer (17.9) and No. 3 rebounder (9.5). She averaged 18 points and 16 rebounds per game against the Raiders this season, including a dominant 18-point, 21-rebound performance in the Eagle win. "It's a tough matchup because they have some big people that are actually real athletic, meaning they don't just hang around inside - like (DeYoung)," Wilson said. "So they're very athletic and we just have to take care of business like we did the last time." What happened? In that last meeting, the Raiders nabbed 20 steals, which allowed them to overcome a 44-35 rebounding deficiency and a 9-for-29 shooting night from 3-point range. Northwest ruled the paint in the first matchup as well, outrebounding SOU 52-32. "Probably the big thing is we have to play good defense inside," Wilson said. "We have to rebound and we have to take care of the ball." If the Raiders lose, 5-9 guard Lindsey Hilaire will have played her final game for SOU. The Raiders' lone senior is their second-leading scorer (11.2) and is tied for the team lead in assists per game (3.1). Hilaire was recognized on Senior Night (Saturday's home loss to Oregon Tech), when she gave Wilson a going away present he won't soon forget. "When she was introduced, I don't think I've ever felt a more heartfelt hug my whole life," Wilson said. "It was a real heartfelt embrace. She's been through the good and the bad with the team and she's never said 'Boo.' I'm going to miss her, not because of the athletic ability that she has; I'm going to miss her because of the quality person that she is." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams