WINCHESTER — The Northwest Athletic Conference season got underway Monday for the Umpqua men’s and women’s basketball teams.

The No. 9 UCC women were looking for an upset to start conference play, but their efforts came up short against No. 3 Clackamas. The Cougars built a double digit lead at halftime and managed to hold the Riverhawks in check the rest of the way for a 88-79 victory.

Shielteal Watah led Umpqua with a game-high 24 points. Victoria Hollingshead added a double-double for the Riverhawks with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Hemani Kalia made five 3-point shots and led Clackamas with 21 points. All five starters for the Cougars finished in double figures.

Following the women’s game, the No. 4 ranked Umpqua men earned a 90-89 win over No. 9 Clackamas to begin NWAC play. The Riverhawks were ahead 52-42 at halftime, but trailed the Cougars by five with two minutes remaining.

UCC finished the game on a 6-0 run and took the lead with 19-seconds remaining on a lay-in by Talon Valdez. Clackamas had a shot at winning or tying the game at the free throw line, but Michael Bashaw missed both attempts with just one second remaining.

Nathan Webb led the Riverhawks with a game-high 35 points and Valdez added 21.

David Gonzales was the leading scorer for Clackamas with 17.

The conference-openers were the first games in over a month for the Riverhawks, who will next visit the Lane Titans on Wednesday.