Roadrunners Outlast SW Oregon 52-51

By DYLAN HERSHA

ALBANY, Ore. — Freshman forward Natalia McBride led the Linn-Benton women's basketball team with a 14 point, 11 rebound double-double in a hard fought victory over the Southwestern Oregon Community College Lakers on Wednesday Feb. 7, 2024. 

The teams went back and forth right away with four lead changes in the first quarter which ended with LB up 15-8. The RoadRunners set the tone defensively and collected four of their seven steals in the first quarter. 

SWOCC came back firing in the 2nd quarter and took the lead 20-17 by the middle of the quarter before the Roadrunners went on a 8-3 run and closed out the half leading 25-23.

LB held strong and didn't give up the lead once in the 3rd quarter by pushing the pace, out scoring the Lakers 17-13 and winning the rebound battle 8-4 in the quarter. 

Coming into the final quarter, LB was up 42-36. The Lakers came back and stayed within three points before taking the lead 47-46 with 3:22 left to go. With one minute remaining, two huge free throws by Linn-Benton freshman Katelynn Weaver put the Roadrunners back on top. Freshman BettyAnn Wilson then secured another two giving LB the lead 52-49 with 12 seconds left to play.  

A wild scramble with just seconds left to play led to both teams receiving two technical free throws. SWOCC Forward Skylar Willey made both of her attempts, making the score 51-52 with 3 seconds on the clock. SWOCC got up one final shot and missed at the buzzer.

With the win the Roadrunners move to 12-5 overall on the season and 4-3 in conference play. 

SWOCC's record moves to 6-14,2-9. 

The Roadrunners will play again on Saturday Feb. 10 at home against Mt. Hood Community College in the Linn-Benton activities center at 2:00 p.m.

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