Eastern Oregon's women's basketball team faced a tough defeat in the CCC Tournament semifinals, losing to Lewis-Clark State College, 70-57. The game took a critical turn in the third quarter when the Warriors outscored the Mountaineers 22-7, turning their momentum around significantly. Despite an energetic start that saw Eastern lead 18-9 after the first, turnovers and foul trouble disrupted their offense, allowing LCSC to dominate the second half. With their tournament run ending, Eastern finishes with a solid record of 25-5 but still has a chance for a national tournament bid pending outcomes in the conference championship.

By the Numbers
  • Eastern Oregon shot 38.3% from the field, while LCSC shot 40.6%.
  • LCSC converted 26 points off Eastern's turnovers.
Yes, But

While Eastern was significantly outperformed in the third quarter, they maintained a rebounding edge, pulling down 43 boards compared to LCSC's 37. This discrepancy may point to defensive opportunities that were missed.

State of Play
  • Eastern Oregon concludes its conference tournament with a 25-5 record.
  • The Mountaineers are still in contention for a national tournament berth, pending outcomes in other conference tournaments.
What's Next

If CCC co-champion Corban University wins the tournament, Eastern is poised to receive an automatic bid. Additionally, they remain a candidate for an at-large bid due to their national ranking.

Bottom Line

Despite the semifinal loss, Eastern Oregon's strong season leaves them with a potential path to the national tournament, emphasizing the need to capitalize on their opportunities as they await further developments.