Evergreen

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Evergreen State College outscored Walla Walla University 32-16 in the final two quarters to turn a four-point halftime lead into a 63-43 victory over the Wolves in a Cascade Collegiate Conference women's basketball game on Friday, Dec. 6 at the Costantino Recreation Center. Jaylyn Sackrider (Sr., G/F) provided the Geoducks with 19 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. Sackrider also blocked six shots and registered two assists.

The Geoducks, who held a 31-27 margin at halftime, picked up their first win for new Head Coach Derrick Pringle. Evergreen improved to 1-3 on the season, 1-0 in the CCC. Walla Walla fell to 3-5 overall, 0-2 in the CCC.

Sackrider grabbed nine of her 12 rebounds in the first half but had just two points at the intermission. She scored 17 points and blocked five shots in the second half to help ignite Evergreen's success in the final two quarters. Sackrider was 9 for 16 on field goals during the game.

Mikail Montez (Sr., F/C) tacked on 16 points for Evergreen to go with eight boards, three assists, and two steals. Montez was 8 of 13 from the field. Sydney VanNess (Sr., G/F) scored 14 points for the Geoducks, while Allison DeBerry (Sr., G) supplied seven assists. Evergreen shot 45.9% for the game (28 of 61), including 60.0% in the fourth quarter (9 of 15). The Geoducks achieved a 43-29 rebounding edge.

Walla Walla starting forward Chariah Daniels led the Wolves with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while earning three assists. Natalee Trevino and Allison Haslam each scored 10 points. Jordan Green-Wallace grabbed six boards for the Wolves. 

The Geoducks held Walla Walla to 29.6% field goal shooting (16 of 54)). The Wolves hit just 5 of 25 field goals (20.0%) in the second half, including 1 for 11 (9.1%) in the third quarter.

WWU held a 10-7 lead in the first quarter after Trevino sank a jumper at the 3:45 mark. Evergreen closed the period with an 11-0 run that started with a 3-point basket by Kadance Blankers (Jr., G), followed by a traditional three-point play by VanNess. The run also included a 3-pointer from Honey Let Padasdao (Sr., G) with 1:50 on the clock and a jumper by VanNess with 28 seconds left for an 18-10 advantage.

The Wolves outscored the Geoducks 17-13 in the second quarter. Evergreen scored first on a jumper by Sackrider, but Walla Walla tallied 10 of the next 12 points to cut the lead to 22-20 on a layup by Jaylo Bello with 6:44 remaining. TESC was in front 26-22 following a layup by Montez with 3:57 to go. The wolves took a 27-26 lead a bit later on a 3-point shot by Haslam, but the Geoducks regained the lead at 29-27 on a 3-pointer from Blankers and extended the margin to four points on a jumper by Montez as the half ended.

In the third quarter, Walla Walla pulled within 33-31 before a 10-0 surge by Evergreen gave the Geoducks a 12-point lead at the 1:47 mark. The run featured six points by Sackrider and four points by Montez. WWU added two free throws with 1:05 left but Evergreen led 43-33 entering the fourth quarter.

Jumpers by Sackrider with 9:32 and 7:58 to play elevated the Geoducks' lead to 47-33. The Wolves moved as close as 49-39 on a jumper by Trevino with 6:33 left, but seven consecutive points by the Geoducks gave Evergreen a 56-29 as the clock reached 4:26. The run ended with a basket and a made free throw by Sackrider.

The Geoducks will return to the CRC on Saturday (Dec. 7) to take on Lewis-Clark State College. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. PST.