OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Evergreen State College held a 37-35 lead at halftime, but Warner Pacific University claimed a 19-7 scoring edge in the third quarter and went on to defeat the Geoducks 76-63 in a Cascade Collegiate Conference game on Saturday, Jan. 10. Matty Woolf led the Knights with 17 points, while Shielteal Watah added 16 points. Bayleigh Harder (Sr., F/C) topped Evergreen with 19 points and Amaya Afatasi (Jr., PG) scored 15 points for the Geoducks.

Warner Pacific upped its record to 8-7 on the season, including 4-4 in the CCC. Evergreen fell to 0-11 overall, 0-8 in the CCC.

The Knights held a 14-9 advantage with 1:51 left in the first quarter following a layup by Watah. The Geoducks countered with a 7-2 run to tie the score 16-16 on a 3-pointer by Amaialyne Cepeda with 22 seconds on the clock.

In the second quarter, Evergreen led by as many as eight points at 29-21 after Jenna Glenzel (Sr., G) scored on a jumper at the 5:23 mark. Warner Pacific tallied the next 10 points, starting with a 3-pointer by Bryten Gumke and ending with a pair of free throws by Kayla Kasubuchi, for a 31-29 lead with 3:04 left. A bit later, the Knights owned a 35-32 margin before Harder sank a layup with 1:11 to play and ended the half by making a 3-pointer with five seconds left.

A 7-0 run in the first two minutes of the third quarter gave WPU at 42-37 lead. Woolf completed the run with a 3-pointer. Evergreen trailed by a 44-41 margin after Afatasi sank two free throws with 6:26 remaining. The Knights responded with a 9-0- run to expand their lead to 53-41 as the clock reached 2:39. WPU was in front 54-44 after three quarters.

The Geoducks got as close as 61-53 with 7:12 to play following a traditional three-point play on a layup and foul shot by Afatasi. Evergreen was unable to continue the rally, as Warner Pacific regained control with seven consecutive points.

Harder's team-leading 19 points included a trio of 3-point baskets to go along with three rebounds. Afatasi, in addition to scoring 15 points, supplied the Geoducks with six assists and three boards. Jesselle Victo Castillo (Jr., PG) tallied seven points and three rebounds. Habiba Adam (Fr., G) paced Evergreen with five rebounds.  

Woolf earned her 17 points by hitting 6 of 7 field goals, including 5 for 6 on 3-pointers. She also grabbed six rebounds. Watah's 16 points included an 8-for-9 effort at the free throw line to go with seven boards. Kasubuchi was credited with 15 points and four assists. Skylar Groesbeck recorded 10 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. 

Evergreen was 22 of 54 from the field (40.7%) and hit 7 of 21 three-point attempts (33.3%). The Geoducks made 12 of 19 free throws (63.2%). WPU shot 48.1% for the game (26 of 54), including 7 for 14 on 3-point shots. The Knights were 17 of 23 on free throws (73.9%).

The Geoducks will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 16, when they will take on Walla Walla University in College Place, Washington. Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m. PST.