COMING UP: The Evergreen State College (5-3 overall, 3-1 CCC) travels to Oregon for a pair of Cascade Collegiate Conference contests. The Geoducks face the No. 24-ranked Northwest Christian University Beacons (9-1, 2-1) on Friday in Eugene before taking on the Corban University Warriors (7-5, 3-2) on Saturday in Salem. Tip off for both games is slated for 5:30 p.m.

LIVE STATS AND VIDEO STREAM AT NCU: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ncubeacons/.
LIVE STATS AND VIDEO STREAM AT CORBAN: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/corban/.

ABOUT EVERGREEN: The Geoducks, who recently saw a five-game winning streak snapped by No. 11-ranked Southern Oregon, are nonetheless tied for the best eight-game start in program history at 5-3. The 2014-15 team also started 5-3 on the way to a 16-10 season record, which is the best single-season record at Evergreen. This year's team averages 69.0 points while allowing 65.2 per game, is a plus 0.9 in rebounds, and it ranks third in NAIA Division II women's basketball free throw percentage at 80.9. The Geoducks shoot 39.8 percent from the field, fourth best among conference teams, while limiting opponents to 36.4 percent, second best in the CCC. Individually, junior forward Cayla Jones is fourth in conference scoring with 15.8 points per game, seventh with 6.8 rebounds per game, and ninth with 3.1 assists per contest. Freshman point guard Jahpera McEachin averages 14.9 points per game, fifth in the CCC, and her 91.2 percent accuracy at the foul line is third best in NAIA Division II. Senior guard Cherish Moss has a better percentage at 95.0 but doesn't qualify based of too few attempts. Junior guard Alexcis Higginbotham averages 12.5 points, giving the Geoducks three players averaging in double-figure scoring.

ABOUT NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN: The Beacons, ranked No. 24 in the NAIA Division II national poll, have made steady improvement under fourth-year head coach Heath Alexander. They have really stepped up this season, starting out with nine wins in 10 games. In the four years prior to Alexander's arrival at the start of the 2014-15 season, NCU teams were a combined 21-51 in conference play. The Beacons finished sixth in the regular season in Alexander's first year, improved to a 13-7 conference record and fourth-place finish in 2015-16, and they were 14-6 and fourth last year. Last year's star player, guard Monique Thompson, was injured and is a redshirt this season, but there is plenty of star power on this year's NCU team. Leading the way is Anamaria Virjoghe, a 6-5 freshman center who recently was a member of the Romanian U18 national team. She averages 13.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Freshman Morgan McKinney shoots 60.9 percent and averages 13.3 points, while Katerina Brejchova, a senior guard from Czech Republic, averages 9.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game. The Beacons average 76.5 points and allow 52.0 per game, which ranks them first in NAIA Division II basketball in scoring margin and second in scoring defense. They shoot 43.9 percent from the floor, best in the CCC, and allow their opponents to shoot 31.0 percent, which is the best in all of NAIA Division II. NCU's plus 12.2 rebounding margin is third best nationally.

RECENT RESULTS: Evergreen has won 12 of 20 games played against the Beacons dating back to the 2007-08 season. Northwest Christian swept two games last year, including a 50-49 win on two free throws in the final seconds in Olympia.

ABOUT CORBAN: There are lots of newcomers on this Corban team, led by 5-11 sophomore guard/forward Jordan Woodvine, a Boise State University transfer who averages 16.5 points per game. Junior forward Emily Yost averages 13.3 points and shoots 63.9 percent from the field, among the national leaders. Other standouts include returning guard Maci Bozett, who scores at a 13.1 clip, and junior point guard Treasure Farmer, third in the conference with 4.1 assists per game. The Warriors average 68.7 points and allow 64.0, and they are plus 6.2 in rebounding margin. Corban shoots 42.6 percent from the field and 71.7 percent at the foul line, both third among conference teams.

SINCE 2007-08: Looking back through statistics dating to the 2007-08 season, Evergreen has won eight of 21 games played against Corban. The Geoducks and the Warriors split their two games last season, both winning on their home court.

EVERGREEN 73, OREGON TECH 63: Evergreen shot 18-for-19 from the free throw line on the way to a 73-63 conference victory over the Oregon Tech Owls on Friday, Dec. 15, inside Costantino Recreation Center. The Geoducks got 18 points from Alexcis Higginbotham and 13 points each from Jahpera McEachin, Cayla Jones and Deidra Miller.

SOUTHERN OREGON 85, EVERGREEN 67: The visiting Raiders showed why they are nationally ranked, beating the Geoducks by an 85-67 score on Saturday, Dec. 16, in CRC Gym. Deidra Miller was outstanding off the bench for the Geoducks with 21 points and eight rebounds. Cayla Jones added 15 points and eight rebounds and Jahpera McEachin added 15 points for Evergreen.