Nelson paces LCSC to Staples Classic win

 11-17-06 

Janeen Nelson (pictured left) scored a game-high 23 points to help the Lewis-Clark State College women’s basketball team defeat Evergreen State College 77-43 in the opening round of the Staples Classic at the LCSC Activity Center on Friday night. 

In the first game, Eastern Oregon University held Westminster College to just three points during the last 11 minutes of the game to claim an 81-66 win. 

In Saturday’s pre-determined format, Westminster and Evergreen State meet at 2 p.m., followed by LCSC and Eastern Oregon at 4 p.m. 

Nelson, a senior guard, hit 10 of 13 shots from the field, including a perfect 7-of-7 inside the 3-point arc, for a career-high total at LCSC. She provided some needed spark after Evergreen State started to rally in the second half. 

LCSC led by as much as 22 in the first half, but the Geoducks cut the margin to 41-31 early in the second half. Nelson then scored nine of LCSC’s next 11 points and sparked an 11-2 run that put the Warriors comfortably ahead. 

“Janeen played with a lot of swagger tonight,” LCSC coach Brian Orr said after his club improved to 4-0 on the season, while the Geoducks fell to 0-2. 

The Warriors held Evergreen State to just four points during an eight-minute stretch late in the second half to claim the win.  

Ashley Baker was the only other Warrior in double figures with 13 points and also led LCSC with 11 rebounds. 

LCSC played well defensively, forcing 34 turnovers and holding the Geoducks to just 16-of-48 shooting from the field, 33 percent. 

Joy White had 13 points for Evergreen State, while teammate Jennifer Solberg added a game-high 13 rebounds. 

Aundrea Morrison saw her first action of the season for LCSC in the game. She has an ankle injury and played only two minutes. 

In the early game, Eastern Oregon’s Christie Weaver scored 37 points and three other players finished in double figures as the Mounties, 2-0, erased a six-point deficit midway through the second half to claim the win. Shannon Evans led Westminster, 3-3, with 23 points.