The Evergreen State College posted a huge second half to overpower Walla Walla University 63-43 in their 2024-25 Cascade Collegiate Conference opener at Costantino Recreation Center on Dec. 6.
Jalyn Sackrider, who is also part of the Geoducks track and field team, was stellar in the win as she commanded the paint with 19 points 12 rebounds and six blocks.
Mikail Montez added 16 points, eight boards and two assists, while Sydney VanNess had 14 points. Senior point guard Allison DeBerry, despite having an off night in scoring, contributed seven assists for the Geoducks.
It was a close encounter in the first few minutes of the game. Trailing 10-7 with less than four minutes left in the first quarter, Evergreen orchestrated an 11-0 run after a couple of threes from Kandace Blankers and Honey Let Padasdao, along with jumpers from VanNess to close the opening quarter with an 18-10 advantage.
The visitors clawed back after efforts from Natalee Trevino and Jaylo Bello cut the Evergreen lead to 22-20, before finally regaining advantage at three minutes left with an Allison Haslam three, 27-26. But that lead was short-lived, as Evergreen pulled off a late 5-0 run to lead 31-27 at the half.
A tweak of tactics and a hot shooting streak benefitted the Geoducks in the third quarter. After Walla Walla sliced the Evergreen lead to 33-31 with six minutes left, Sackrider and Montez combined for a 10-0 run to extend the lead up to 12 before two free throws from the visitors stopped the five-minute scoring drought. Walla Walla only made one field goal out of 11 attempts in the third quarter.
With a 10-point lead in the final quarter, Evergreen held on and further extended the gap, with Sackrider sustaining her hot form, while VanNess remained reliable on both ends of the court. The Geoducks ended the final five minutes of the game with a monster 14-4 run to cap off the game.
The team box scores reflect the one-sidedness of the win, as Evergreen shot 0.459% from the field field goal compared with 0.296% by Walla Walla and posted a big edge in rebounds at 43 to 29.
This was the first win of the first season for newly hired head coach Derrick Pringle, who signed with his alma mater last October to lead the women’s basketball team.
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