LA GRANDE, Ore. -- A strong conclusion to the first quarter helped NAIA nationally-ranked Eastern Oregon University on its way to a 97-51 win over The Evergreen State College in a Cascade Collegiate Conference women's basketball game on Friday, Feb. 6. Kelsie Siegner of EOU led all players with 25 points. Sahara Soufi (Jr., G) topped the Geoducks with 13 points.

Eastern Oregon, tied for #15 in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, improved its record to 20-3 on the season, 13-3 in the CCC. Evergreen dropped to 0-18 overall, 0-15 in the CCC.

The Geoducks trailed by a slim 6-4 margin after Amaya Afatrasi (Jr., PG) scored a basket with 7:37 left in the first quarter. EOU responded with a 10-0 run for a 16-4 advantage. The final six points of the run were scored on a 3-pointer by Siegner with 6:05 on the clock and a 3-pointer from Brinley Hagemeier at the 5:23 mark. Afatasi tallied the next two-points with a field goal for Evergreen, but the Mountaineers went on to grab a 30-13 lead at the end of the quarter.

Evergreen tallied the first three points of the second quarter to pull within 30-16. Soufi earned two points on a field goal with 9:36 remaining before Melissa Blanke (Jr. G) added a free throw with 8:58 to play. The Geoducks were unable to get closer. Eastern Oregon held a 47-28 lead at halftime. The Mountaineers continued to pull away in the second half.

Soufi's 13 points led three Geoducks in double figures. She also contributed three rebounds. Jenna Glenzel (Sr., G) produced 10 points and hit 7 of 8 free throws. Glenzel also grabbed six rebounds, while contributing three assists, and one steal. Habiba Adam (Fr., G) also finished with 10 points, while earning one blocked shot and one steal. Afatasi was credited with nine points and three rebounds, while Amaialyne Cepeda (Sr., G) supplied four assists.

For Eastern Oregon, Siegner reached 25 points by connecting on 10 of 16 field goals, including 5 of 7 on 3-pointers. Siegner recorded two rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Makayla Torkornoo followed with 14 points, while hitting 5 of 8 shots. She was 4 for 7 from 3-point range, hauled down five boards, and supplied two steals for the Mountaineers.

Raquel Fehringer and Reigha Niemeyer each scored nine points for EOU. Fehringer also accumulated five assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Haylee Johnson led the Mountaineers with eight rebounds. Katelyn Senn grabbed six rebounds.

Eastern Oregon shot 47.4% from the field (37 of 78) and made 17 of 35 three-points attempts (48.6%). EOU was 6 for 9 at the free throw line. Evergreen made 18 of 56 field goals (32.1%), while converting 3 of 12 three-point shots. The Geoducks sank 12 of 15 free throws for 80.0%.

Up next for the Geoducks is a game at the College of Idaho on Saturday, Feb. 7. Game time for the CCC matchup is set for 3 p.m. MST / 2 p.m. PST.