Big Third Quarters Key to Two Eagle Women Wins

Jazmyne Wells scored 19 points, and the Eagle women neutralized Lassen's height advantage during a 65-55 victory Saturday evening in Weed. It was their second win of the week, and both had similar storylines and final scores.

Like the Lassen game, the Eagles held a small lead at half time Wednesday night at Redwoods, then took control with a big third quarter and won by a dozen, 64-52. It was a welcome switch from the previous week, when the Eagles struggled in the third quarter during losses to Butte and Feather River.

At 3-3 in the Golden Valley Conference and 16-6 overall, the Eagles will have a chance to make up ground in the standings when they play Saturday at Butte (5-1 GVC, 20-3 overall). "If we shoot well, we can beat anybody," head coach Noelle Collier said after the Lassen game.

The coach praised her players for getting back on track after two tough losses. She said Megan Bennett, Kayana Woodard and freshman Asia Hendrix did a good job keeping Lassen's "long and tall" players from scoring a lot, although the Cougars did grab 49 rebounds and blocked 10 shots.

Collier liked the Eagles' intensity and said it helped them get more scoring chances. She rotated players in and out in bunches in the second half, which also helped wear Lassen down.

Wells scored 14 of her game-high 19 points and made 2 of her three 3-point baskets in the first half, which ended with the Eagles ahead, 32-28.

Woodard and Halliday Hubbard, who both finished with 12 points, led the scoring during a 20-11 third-quarter run. Woodard made a pair of threes and scored 8 points in the quarter. The lead grew to 52-39 after her second 3. Hubbard was 4 for 4 from the free throw line and scored 6 points in the third. She later made a steal and took it all the way for a lay-in that put the Eagles up 62-48.

As a team, the Eagles made 16 of their 20 free throws against Lassen. Hendrix was 4 for 5 from the line and finished with 8 points. Bennett was 3 for 4 and scored 5. Breanne Hands scored her 6 points in the first half.

Bouncing back from their losses the previous week, the Eagles led Redwoods 27-24 at half time, then outscored the Corsairs 21-7 in the third quarter.

Things are bunched up behind Butte in the GVC standings with Feather River at 4-2, Shasta 3-2, and Siskiyous 3-3. Lassen fell to 1-4 and Redwoods 1-5.

The Eagles are off until Saturday's afternoon game at Butte. They'll play the next two in their home gym, Thursday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. against Redwoods and Saturday, Feb. 11, at 3 p.m. against Shasta.