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Raider women back on winning track By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN ASHLAND -- Southern Oregon University's women's basketball team is battling its way into the Cascade Conference championship race without its tallest player and leading scorer. Playing their seventh straight game without injured 6-foot-3 center Sarah Petersen, the 20th-ranked Raiders won their second conference game in three nights Saturday when they rolled past Concordia, 64-46, at McNeal Pavilion. Lauren Mohan, a 5-foot-10 senior wing from Crook County High, scored 20 points, including four 3-point field goals, to lead the Raiders, 2-1 in the Cascade. SOU is 10-7 overall. Mohan made four of her five 3-point attempts, and the Raiders hit five of 10 treys as a team. Wing Melissa England added nine points for Southern Oregon, and point guard Ali Richards of Phoenix had eight points, eight assists, eight rebounds and four steals. "We played good defense and kept them from getting the ball to their scorers pretty well, and we did a good job pushing the ball and scoring," said Southern Oregon coach Shirley Huyett. "We're a little quicker without Sarah (Petersen), but we miss her. She was our leading scorer and rebounder, and it's tough for us to make up for that." Petersen is out for the season with a knee injury. The Raiders sacrifice size and make up for her absence with smaller, quicker lineups on the floor. "I thought Ali (Richards) played a great game tonight," said Huyett. "She plays so hard. She does everything we need her to do and she's a good leader for us." The Raiders outscored Concordia 13-4 to take a 27-17 lead with 3:42 left in the first half. Kara Magee-Arick scored back-to-back turning shots from the lane and Richards pulled up to hit a 12-foot bank shot with 40 seconds left in the first half to give the Raiders a 31-21 lead. SOU went on a 12-4 run to open the second half to take a 43-27 lead. Mohan had eight points during the spurt with two straight 3-point field goals and two free throws. Monica Fisher contributed jump shots from 17 and 12 feet as the Raider lead grew to 46-29. A 3-point shot by Liz Bresnan gave SOU a 51-33 lead with 7:25 left in the game. Mohan's 20-point game was one point short of her career high of 21 set earlier this season. "My shot was on tonight and everything was working," she said. "I was feeling good and I wanted the ball. "We need to keep playing like we did tonight and we should be fine." Amanda Tweedy, a freshman from Yreka (Calif.) High led Concordia with 15 points. CONCORDIA (7-9, 1-1) Sowers 2-14 3-5 7, Grimm 1-5 0-0 2, Tweedy 5-8 5-7 15, Hudson 3-10 0-5 11, Hopkins 0-6 0-0 0, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Madrigal 1-4 0-0 2, Buehler 3-8 1-1 7, Seyfert 0-0 0-0 0, Muhammad 1-1 0-0 2, Riddle 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-46 21-35 46. SOUTHERN OREGON (10-7, 2-1) Mohan 5-7 6-8 20, Richards 2-4 4-6 8, England 3-9 3-4 9, Fisher 2-5 0-2 4, Wiley 0-4 1-2 1, Nunley 1-4 4-4 6, Tangedahl 0-1 0-2 0, Bresnan 2-5 0-0 5, Merritt 1-3 3-5 5, Magee-Arick 3-4 0-2 6. Totals 19-46 21-35 46. Halftime score -- Southern Oregon 31, Concordia 23. 3-point goals -- Southern Oregon 5-10 (Mohan 4-5, Bresnan 1-1, England 0-4), Concordia 0-8 (Sowers 0-2, Grimm 0-4, Hopkins 0-1, Madrigal 0-1). Assists -- Southern Oregon 14 (Richards 8), Concordia 11 (Hopkins 4). Rebounds -- Southern Oregon 34 (Richards 8), Concordia 40 (Tweedy 11). A -- 350. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, OR U.S.A.