UCC’s women’s basketball team improved to a record of 22-0 (9-0 in league) after a Feb. 3 conference win (76-52) over Mount Hood Community College in Gresham. However, the game did not go as smoothly as Umpqua would have hoped.
The RiverHawks struggled early. With six of their 17 turnovers coming in the first quarter combined with shooting just 33.3 percent from the field, UCC found themselves down quickly, but they managed to climb back to a one-point lead at the end of the quarter.
Head coach Dave Stricklin described the team’s play as “lack luster.” He continued, “We didn’t play as hard as we could have, and we didn’t have good ball movement. We were the better team, but there was no sense of urgency. At this point in the season, we should be playing more unselfish.”
However, the momentum quickly turned for the Riverhawks at the start of the second quarter when freshman guard Tynesha Parnell came off of the bench and went 4-6 from three-point range. “We were lethargic and she came off the bench to give us a spark,” Stricklin said. “Teams key on other players that they know are our scorers and leave her open not expecting her to score, and she makes them pay.”
The RiverHawks outscored Mt. Hood 25-11 in the second quarter giving them a 15-point lead at halftime. They continued their dominance through the third quarter. At one point they led by 24 points and continued to maintain the lead until ultimately winning by 18.
It was Umpqua’s presence in the paint that set them apart. Sophomore forward Bria Thames led UCC in scoring accounting for 20 of the team’s 76 points, and she was one rebound away from a double-double. Sophomore center Dajanay Powell put up 11 points and eight boards. Sophomore forward Jordan Stotler contributed a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
As a team, the RiverHawks outrebounded Mt. Hood by 20 and finished with eight blocks compared to none for the Saints.