Evan Coulter

Men’s basketball

Evan Coulter scored 35 points, the first 30 point performance from a Saint Martin’s player since Jeremy Green dropped 32 during the 2011-2012 season, and the Saints picked up a huge conference victory knocking off Montana State-Billings, 83-70, in Billings. The win created a three way tie for sixth in the GNAC with the Yellowjackets and Western Oregon. The top six teams make the conference tournament, which will be held at Marcus Pavilion at Saint Martin’s.

The Saints shot 52% in the first half from the field and hit eight 3-pointers to take a 40-39 lead at the break. MSUB cut the lead to five at the 11:11 mark but the Saints slammed the door and took a 21 point led with 5:45 left to play on a Tyler Copp three pointer.

Coulter was outstanding hitting 10-of-14 shots including 5-of-7 from long distance and 10-of-11 from the charity stripe. He also had seven rebounds and four steals. Ryan Rogers notched a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards and Matt Dodson chipped in 10 points.

Five Geoducks scored in double-digits with Marc Taylor going for 17 points and 11 rebounds but Northwest held a 21-8 advantage from the free throw line and left the CRC Gymnasium with an 83-74 win. The loss drops the Geoducks to 2-10 in the Cascade Conference.

The shorthanded Clippers were outrebounded 57-29 and made just seven shots from the field in the second half en route to a 71-53 loss to Green River in Auburn. SPSCC shot just 31% in the game and went 4-of-19 from long distance.  Brian Tyson, Jonathan Roberts, Keegan Liebelt and Brandon McGurkin each played 40 minutes. Slanblaytee Kaye led the Clippers with 17 points.

Women’s basketball

Megan Wiedeman’s layup with 1:37 left to play gave Saint Martin’s a 57-55 lead and Brooke Paulson converted a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left to seal the deal and the Saints escaped Monmouth with a 59-56 win over Western Oregon.

The Saints shot just 29.8% in the game and hit just two three pointers and the big difference in the game turned out to be at the line. Saint Martin’s hit 23-of-32 while Western Oregon converted 15-of-25 free throws.

Chelsea Haskey led the Saints with 12 points and 11 rebounds, her first double-double since December 5th. Brooke Paulson and Megan Wiedeman each chipped in 11 points.

The Saints now sit in sixth place in the GNAC at 6-4

Sofia Guerra and LaKeisha Anger each notched double-doubles in SPSCC’s 76-64 win over Green River. Guerra led the Clippers with 17 points with 11 rebounds and Anger added 16 points and 15 boards. Maria Jesse and Dramiha Skaar each scored in double-digits with 13 and 12 points respectively.

The Clippers held the Gators to just six field goals in the second half, outrebounded them 50-37 and forced 21 turnovers for 23 points.

Sammi Clark’s jumper with 1:37 left tied the game at 69 but on the next possesion, Ashley Coila’s knocked down a jumper of her own and made the and-1 free throw after she was fouled and Northwest hung on the rest of the way and took home a 76-73 important Cascade Conference win.

Clark scored 26 points in the loss and Jessica Denmon chipped in 13 points and eight assists but the Geoducks dropped to 6-6 in the CCC and are currently sixth in the standings with eight teams making the conference tournament.

College softball

The 12th-ranked Saint Martin’s softball team opened up 2014 in Riverside, California and dropped a pair of games to Cal Baptist by the final scores of 9-7 and 9-3. In both games, the Lancers scored five runs in the first inning and opened up big leads that the Saints were unable to overcome.

In game one, Taviah Jenkins hit a grand slam in the top of the sixth inning of game one to bring the Saints to within 7-5 b but Cal Baptist answered back with a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the inning. Lacey McGladrey, Sam Munger, Kaylie Hull and Megan Miller each had two hits. Munger went the distance in the circle and was charged with the loss.

In game two, Cal Baptist opened up a 9-0 lead before Miller drove in a pair of runs and Jenkins singled in Miller. But it was all the Saints could muster in a 9-3 loss.