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In debut, Petersen scores 20, leads win By KRIS HENRY ASHLAND -- Shirley Huyett wasn't exactly thrilled with the means, but the Southern Oregon women's basketball coach still felt good about the end result as the seventh-ranked Raiders opened their 1999-2000 campaign Thursday night. Paced by Sarah Petersen's 20 points in her SOU debut and a solid all-around effort by Melissa England, Southern Oregon (1-0) eased past Cascade 72-59 at McNeal Pavilion. Playing their first game without all-everything forwards Nada Janackovic and Denise Berry, who led SOU to a No. 2 ranking and a 28-4 record last year in their senior seasons, the Raiders showed the cupboard isn't bare. SOU raced to a 41-20 halftime lead as Cascade had trouble matching up with the Raiders. "In the first half we just executed really well and pushed the tempo and our pressure defense caused them problems," said Huyett. "We just kept them off-balance." SOU forced 20 turnovers in the first half and knocked down nearly 44 percent of its field goals and 67 percent of its shots beyond the 3-point line. The second half featured an entirely different look for the Raiders, however, as Cascade (0-2) took advantage of the Southern Oregon lapses. "We just didn't execute as well on offense as we should have," said Huyett. "We shot poorly from the floor and didn't play good defense, and they outrebounded us by 14 in the second half." The Raiders converted only 9-of-32 field goals in the second half and went 0-for-9 from the 3-point line. As with last season, SOU's saving grace was an excellent performance from the free-throw line. The Raiders knocked down 22-of-29 to maintain their cushion over Cascade, which shot 32 percent from the field but hit 24-of-31 free throws in the second half to clip SOU's lead. England had 13 points, nine rebounds, four steals and four assists to help pace the Raiders as all 11 players to see action scored. Ali Richards added eight assists and three steals for SOU, while Lauren Mohan had eight points and Tiwana Merritt had six. Cascade was led by Heidi Sharpes' 29 points and 10 rebounds. The Raiders will get a boost in about two weeks with the return of Monica Fisher, who is busy trying to help the SOU volleyball team to the Cascade Conference title. Once the volleyball season is completed, Huyett said she expects Fisher to rejoin the basketball team. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.