By Joey Keeran

CBS Sports Radio 1490 The Score

joey@bciradio.com

@joeykeeran

January 4, 2016 2:30 p.m.

The Umpqua men and womenÕs basketball teams started conference play on Saturday with a pair of home games against Mt. Hood.

The Umpqua women started the defense of their South Region title from last year with a 68-62 win over the Saints. UCCÕs top scorer this season, Sawyer Kluge, led the way with a game-high 21 points. Anna Mumm had a double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.

UCC trailed Mt. Hood by eight after the first quarter of action, but narrowed the margin down to 38-35 by halftime. The Lady Riverhawks fell behind by five points heading to the fourth quarter, where they outscored the Saints 19-8 for the win. Umpqua is now 1-0 in conference play and 13-2 on the season.

Ê

The Umpqua men started conference play with a narrow 80-75 loss to the Saints. The Riverhawks led by two at the break, but couldn’t hold off Mt. Hood down the stretch. Both teams launched their fair share of 3-point attempts, but the Saints managed to connect on 50-percent to edge out the Riverhawks.

Jaylen Gerrand came off the bench to score a team-high 20 points for Umpqua, including four 3-pointers. Charles Porter finished with 12. The UCC men are now 7-6 on the season.Ê

Umpqua will next face SW Oregon on Wednesday in Coos Bay.