Last week was a good one for LBCC basketball. After a collective record of 1-3 the week before, Linn-Benton’s men’s and women’s teams combined to go 3-1 in their games on January 29 and 31.
LB started the week strong, with the Roadrunner women defeating 3-13 Mt. Hood on the road 66-55 in a game that was rescheduled due to ice storms in January. However, the game was much closer than the final score suggests, with the contest going into double-overtime. The first four quarters ended with a 47-47 tie and the first overtime ended 53-53. But the Beaks dominated when it counted in the second bonus period, going on a 13-0 run to all but secure the win late. Mt. Hood added the final two points of the game, but it wasn’t enough to cut into the substantial lead the Roadrunners built in the last minutes.
For the game, sophomore Muriel Jones-Hoisington led the Beaks with 24 points, while freshman Natalia McBride added a team-best nine rebounds.
In the following game, the LBCC men took on Mt. Hood’s 6-11 men’s team. It was another close game, but this one was decided in standard time, with the Beaks winning 77-71. Sophomore T.J. Zimmermann was the lone Roadrunner to play all 40 minutes, and his time on the court was reflected in his production. Zimmermann led the Beaks in both points and rebounds on the night, with 20 and 11, respectively.
The Beaks took the court just two days later on January 31. The Roadrunner women followed up their thrilling victory over Mt. Hood with an even bigger one, upsetting the NWAC’s top-ranked team, 19-1 Umpqua, on the road with a strong final score of 81-69. The story of the game was turnovers, with LB giving away the ball just 11 times to Umpqua’s 23.
BettyAnn Wilson led the Beaks with 19 points, also tying for the team lead in rebounds with fellow freshman Katelynn Weaver, recording five apiece.
With their win, the Roadrunner women are now an impressive 11-5 on the year, although they sit at 3-3 in the NWAC South. Their next game will be against Southwestern Oregon at home on February 7 at 5:30 p.m.
The LBCC men took the court afterwards against 13-7 Umpqua. Despite a strong showing from Zimmermann with 30 points and 15 rebounds (both team-bests by a wide margin), the Beaks ultimately fell short, losing in a close matchup, 75-67.
With the loss, the LBCC men continue to sit at .500 on the year with a 9-9 overall record, including 3-3 in conference play. They’ll return to their home court, where they’re 6-2 so far this season, to start next week with a 7:30 p.m. matchup against Southwestern Oregon on the 7th.