HAYESVILLE — The Umpqua women’s basketball team wrapped-up the regular season with its fifth straight victory, a 73-65 win over Chemeketa on Wednesday.
The Riverhawks finished in second place in the Northwest Athletic Conference South Region and will now prepare for the conference tournament starting Friday, March 8 in Pasco, Washington.
Umpqua (25-4) overcame a 10-point first quarter deficit by out scoring Chemeketa (13-13) 16-7 in the second period for a 31-26 halftime lead. The Riverhawks stretched the lead to 13 points early in the fourth quarter and held off a couple of runs by the Storm.
Brooklyn Fely recorded her 18th double-double of the season with 32 points and 18 rebounds. The freshman played all 40 minutes in the game.
Bree Peters had 24 points to lead Chemeketa.
The Umpqua women will face Yakima Valley in the first round of the conference tourney. Chemeketa is waiting for the results of a game between Clackamas and Linn-Benton on Saturday, which will determine if the Storm make the conference tournament or not.
Men’s basketball — Chemeketa 77, Umpqua 75
The Umpqua men saw their final game of the season go down to the wire, but Chemeketa pulled ahead in the final seconds thanks to a pair of free throws for a 77-75 win on Wednesday.
UCC overcame a 10-point deficit in the first half and led 41-34 at the break. The Riverhawks stretched the lead to 11-points early in the second half but couldn’t hold off a hot-shooting Chemeketa club.
The Storm shot 5-of-14 (36%) from behind the arch in the second half and made 10-of-13 free throws. The biggest points of the second half came with just 4 seconds on the clock. Chemeketa’s Kellen Sande made a pair of free throws to give the Storm a two-point advantage.
Umpqua (18-11) set up a 3-point shot for Will Harris, but it was blocked. Harris got the loose ball and had a contested chance at the game-winner before the horn, but was off the mark.
Creighton Hansen led the Riverhawks with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Harris added 2o points and seven boards.
Sande led Chemeketa (15-13) with 15 points and five assists.
The Umpqua men will finish no worse than fourth in the NWAC South Region standings, but will not qualify for the conference tournament due to NWAC sanctions on the program this season.
