Steigleman Records Game Highs in Victory Over Cascade, 65-46

By: James Young, Corban College Sports Information Intern

Corban junior guard Jessica Steigleman scored a game-high 17 points and pulled down a game-high 9 rebounds, as Corban's women's basketball team beat the Lady Thunderbirds of Cascade, 65-46.

SALEM - Corban junior guard Jessica Steigleman scored a game-high 17 points and pulled down a game-high 9 rebounds, as Corban's women's basketball team extended its winning streak to four games thanks to a 65-46 victory over the Lady Thunderbirds of Cascade on Friday.

Corban began the scoring early and never turned back as they held the lead for the entire game.

With 16:13 left in the first half, senior Jessi Norton knocked down a jumper off an assist from senior Tosha Wilson that gave Corban a 10-2 advantage.

Tough Warrior defense, as well, held the Thunderbirds from scoring any more than a single basket for nearly the next five minutes, as the Thunderbirds went without a field goal from 19:13 to 14:54.

Corban progressed further by taking a 14-point lead (24-10) with 7:29 remaining when Wilson tallied an unassisted lay-in.

At this same time, Corban restricted Cascade from scoring for just over five minutes, as the Thunderbirds once again went without a single point from the 11:08 mark until the clock read 6:06 remaining in the game.

The Warriors continued offensive pressure to peak their first half lead twice to 16 (34-18 & 36-20) with under one minute before the first half horn.

Cascade opened the second half scoring when Te Awhina Aranui received a pass from Kristin Woller and finished a lay-up that cut Corban's lead to 36-22 with 19:34 remaining in the game.

Over the next seven minutes, the scoring teetered back-and-forth, neither team able to walk away with the game or inch back into it.

However, Steigleman converted on her second free throw of the night which started an 18-0 run from 12:19 to 5:18 with a hand full of Corban players recorded points during the seven minute span.

At its conclusion, the Warriors had stretched their lead to 28 (63-35), the greatest of the night.

The home team relaxed a bit in the final five minutes, but did not give much of their lead up as they completed the victory, 65-46.

Steigleman's game-high 17 points, were closely trailed by Norton who finished with 14 of her own.

The game's leading scorer also tallied a game-high 9 rebounds, including 6 offensive, were only matched by Aranui who also had 9 rebounds on the night.

Seniors Kendall Dionne and Brianne Carras added 11 and 10 points respectively, while Carras aided the rebounding effort with 7 boards and Wilson dished out a game-high 8 assists.

As a team, Corban shot 29-for-68 (42.6%) from the field, including 3-for-4 (75.0%) from the free throw line.

Meanwhile, Cascade shot 19-for-44 (43.2%) from the field, including 7-for-9 (77.8%) from the charity stripe.

The Warriors hit 4-for-16 from three-point range, while the Thunderbirds notched 1-for-6 from behind the arc.

Cascade was led by Aranui's team-high 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting from field, while Woller added 9 points respectively.

Ashley Clark dished out a team-best 4 assists for the visitors, while Lindsay Diaz tied Steigleman for a game-high 4 steals.

By winning its 15th consecutive game against the Thunderbirds and fourth straight conference game, Corban improves to 14-5 overall, 6-2 in Cascade Collegiate Conference action.

Meanwhile, Cascade drops to 1-14 overall, 1-7 in CCC play.

The Warriors will try to extend their conference winning streak to five tomorrow evening, when they host the Knights of Warner Pacific College beginning at 5:30 PM inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.

NOTE:

With her first two points tomorrow night, Steigleman will reach the 1,000-point milestone and be the 11th player in Corban women's basketball history to achieve such a prestigious position.

The 5-foot-10 junior will look to join fellow teammates, Norton and Wilson, who have both surpassed the 1,000-point plateau this season.

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