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Women net first victory in SOU hoops ASHLAND � The Southern Oregon University women�s basketball team made the biggest comeback in school history to defeat the Chinese Junior National team Tuesday at McNeal Pavilion. Meanwhile, the Raider men fell short against Humboldt State, 81-76, in the doubleheader. The Raider women, winless in six previous outings this season, tasted victory by overcoming a 23-point first-half deficit for a 60-59 exhibition victory. Senior guard Tiwana Merritt�s pair of free throws with three seconds left provided the margin of victory. Southern trailed 36-13 with four minutes remaining in the first half, but erased a 38-19 halftime deficit with 14-2 and 13-4 second-half runs. Prior to Merritt�s free throws, China, which shot just 28 percent in the second stanza (7 of 25), led 59-58 with nine seconds left following a short jumper by 6-foot-5 center Chen Nan. The Raider effort eclipsed a record-setting, 20-point comeback against Southern California College during the 1997-98 season. The Chinese squad, comprised of players 18 and under, entered the game undefeated through six games of an eight-game exhibition schedule against Oregon small-college teams. Senior guard Alison Richards, who was shooting just 25 percent from the field for the season, exploded for 16 points on a 7-for-12 effort. Merritt finished with 14, while sophomore forward Jaime Stanford led all players with 14 rebounds. Chen Nan scored a game-high 18 points to go along with nine boards. In the men�s tilt, Humboldt State improved to 2-0 on the season by shooting 50 percent for the game (30 of 60) and outrebounding a strong Raider defensive team, 42-33. Southern (0-3) took a brief 37-36 lead shortly before the half, but fell behind by as much as 12 midway through the second half. A Hamilton Barnes jumper cut the margin to 59-56 with 9:13 left, but the Raiders got no closer. Barnes, a junior transfer from Linn-Benton Community College, led the Raiders with 14 points, while former South Medford High star Chad Paris tallied 13 points, including three dunks, seven rebounds, six steals and five assists despite a sprianed right hand. Lumberjack center Fred Hooks led all players with 17 points and nine rebounds. The Raider men return to action at McNeal Pavilion Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the annual Rodeway Inn Invitational against San Jose Christian, while the SOU women host Dominican in the Super 8 Classic at 3:30. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.