UCC Hoops: Riverhawks drop two in showdown with Clackamas

WINCHESTER —It was a big college hoops battle between the Umpqua Riverhawks and Clackamas Cougars on Saturday at Umpqua Community College. 

The 6th-ranked Umpqua (17-6, 8-2 South Region) women nearly became the first team to stop No. 1 Clackamas (24-0, 11-0) in a clash of top teams in the NWAC South Region.

The Riverhawks rallied late to tie the game in regulation and force overtime. UCC took a four-point lead in OT, but the Riverhawks trailed lated and missed a couple of chances to tie the game in the closing seconds of a 79-77 loss. 

Kaelyn Shoemaker poured in a game-high 27 points with 22 rebounds. Giselle Muffett added a 14 point, 13 rebound double-double for UCC. 

The No. 4-ranked Umpqua (20-3, 8-2) men suffered a 74-63 loss to unranked Clackamas (15-9, 5-5), but the Riverhawks held on to a half-game lead for first place in the South Region standings. 

The Riverhawks lost the turnover battle, leading to 19 points for the Cougars and Clackamas was sharp from long-range, while the Riverhawks made just one 3-point shot. 

Mikey Lloyd had 17 points to lead the Umpqua men in the loss.

Up next, the Riverhawks will visit the Linn-Benton Roadrunners in a South Region matchup Wednesday in Albany.