Two of the best men’s and women’s basketball teams in the NWAC left Vancouver on Saturday with a pair of NWAC South victories.
The No. 1-ranked and undefeated Umpqua women beat Clark 89-66, then the No. 3-ranked Umpqua men followed with an 86-71 win over the Penguins.
WOMEN: There has been little to stop the Riverhawks this season as they haven’t lost since the NWAC championship game last season.
The Penguins (5-14, 1-8 NWAC South) hung tough with Umpqua in the first half. They trailed 24-18 after the first quarter and 39-32 at halftime.
A 9-2 run to start the third quarter helped Umpqua pull away.
Jodi Thomasian scored 19 points to lead four Clark players in double figures. Alexus Hunter had 14 points, Chyna Finley had 13 points, and Nettie Mail had 10.
Darian Mitchell had 22 points and 14 rebounds for Umpqua (22-0, 9-0), and Hunter Boske had 22 points off the bench.
MEN: Union High grad Ethan Smith scored a game-high 26 points for the Penguins, but Umpqua’s 25-11 run to close out the first half was enough for the Riverhawks (20-2, 8-1).
Clark (3-13, 1-8) has lost seven games in a row.
Smith made 7 of 13 shots and also had four rebounds.
Clark leading scorer Dylan Hushaw had 17 points and four rebounds, and Kevin Robello had 11 points. Zach Brown led Clark with eight rebounds.
