SPOKANE, Wash.- In a rematch of last year's NAIA National Tournament First Round, freshman Nasya O'Connor poured in 13 consecutive fourth-quarter points to propel #12 Rocky Women's Basketball to a 78-61 victory over Southern Oregon.
How it happened
Southern Oregon surged out of the gate, jumping to a 9-3 lead over the first three minutes. The Battlin' Bears quickly found their footing, closing the opening period on a 9-3 run of their own to take a one-point edge into the second quarter.
The second quarter was a tight, back-and-forth battle, with neither team extending its lead beyond four points. Although the Raiders forced six Rocky turnovers, Southern Oregon struggled from deep, shooting just 1-for-10 from three-point range. Angelina Cavanaugh drilled a clutch three-pointer in the final 30 seconds of the half to send Rocky into the locker room with a 25-24 halftime advantage.
The defensive struggle continued into the third frame, where neither squad managed a lead larger than three. Rocky cleaned up its ball handling and dominated the glass, pulling down seven offensive rebounds in the quarter. Despite their work on the boards, cold shooting from distance kept the Battlin' Bears' lead at just two points heading into the final frame.
Playing in just her second collegiate game, Ekalaka's Nasya O'Connor took complete control in the fourth quarter. After Iliana Moran dropped in a layup to extend Rocky's lead to four, O'Connor went on a personal 13-0 run. She knocked down five consecutive field goals—including three from beyond the arc—to push the lead to 15 with five minutes remaining. The Battlin' Bear defense locked down late, holding the Raiders scoreless over the final three minutes to secure Rocky's second victory in as many days in Spokane.
Notable statistics
Nasya O'Connor paced all scorers with a game-high 26 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, and a block to record her first collegiate double-double. Isabelle Heggem posted a double-double of her own with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and two steals, while Tailyn Black (13) and Iliana Moran (10) also reached double figures. Moran dished out a game-high seven assists, and Black snagged a pair of steals.
Rocky shot 41.2% from the field and 32.1% from distance, sinking nine three-pointers. The Battlin' Bears made their presence felt inside, scoring 36 points in the paint and grabbing 17 offensive rebounds.
Keeley Wright led the Raiders with 19 points, including four three-pointers.
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Rocky Mountain College
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