Document text
--> --> Dec. 13: SOU women fall to PLU; men routed by Nevada Ashland Daily Tidings TACOMA - The Pacific Lutheran women's basketball team went on an 8-2 game-ending run to hand Southern Oregon University a 63-55 non-conference loss Wednesday at Olson Auditorium. Sophomore Courtney Johnson blocked seven shots to tie her personal record to lead the Lutes (6-1), while the Raiders (3-4) got 14 points and 11 boards from junior center Ashley Nunley. There were 12 ties in the back-and-forth game, the last occurring with 3:10 remaining at 51-51. The teams combined for eight lead changes. Two Jaime Stanford free throws drew the Raiders within two at 55-53 with 1:39 left, but a Becky Franza layup started the Lutes on their final surge. Pacific jumped out to a 15-3 lead before Stanford - who finished with eight points and 11 rebounds - hit a jumper to ignite a 16-3 SOU run. That gave the Raiders their first lead at 19-18 with 6:11 remaining in the first half. The game was a defensive battle throughout, with the Lutes forcing 24 turnovers and the Raiders forcing 18. Neither team shot well either, with the Raiders hitting 35 percent of their shots (22-for-63) and PLU making 39 percent (21-for-54). Next up for SOU is Friday's Cascade Conference opener against Northwest College, at Kirkland, Wash. The Raiders wrap up their Washington road trip Saturday when they face Evergreen State. SOU Men's Basketball At Reno, the Raiders were outscored 42-25 in the first half and played catch-up the rest of the way in an 85-54 loss to NCAA Division I foe Nevada-Reno Wednesday at the Lawlor Events Center. The non-league loss dropped SOU to 4-5 on the season heading into Tuesday's Cascade Conference opener against Northwest College. The league opener will be played at McNeal Pavilion. Junior Martin DeGroot and freshman Brad Coen led the Raiders with 15 points and 14 points, respectively, but SOU couldn't contain Nevada's offense. Nevada hit 17 of 26 shots in the first half (65 percent) and 29 of 49 for the game (59 percent), while holding SOU to 37 percent shooting (19 for 51). Garry Hill-Thomas paced Nevada with a game-high 24 points on 8 of 9 shooting while also tying for a game-high with eight rebounds. DeGroot also had eight boards for the Raiders. Nevada did most of its damage inside, outscoring the Raiders 36-14 in the paint. Despite the one-sided loss, SOU did not come away empty handed. Proceeds generated from the game, along with a Dec. 22 date at the University of San Diego, account for almost one-third of the team's entire 2001-02 operating budget. Raider head coach Brian McDermott, who courts large guarantees from Division I teams in the West during the off-season, says such games also provide Raider players with a taste of the big-time and gives them a chance to play in front of large crowds at nice venues. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing