Patton logs triple-double in 87-44 victory

EOU’S COLBY PATTOn had 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists Saturday. BRAD MOSHER / The Observer

The No. 15 Eastern Oregon University women’s basketball team cruised past Walla Walla University, 87-44, behind a triple-double performance from Colby Patton

The Mountaineers (20-7, 11-5 Cascade Collegiate Conference) clinched their eighth 20-win season in the past 11 years with the victory. EOU became the second team to reach 20 wins this season. 

Patton recorded a game-high 15 points. The senior made five of her 10 three-point attempts. She also had 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Her point, rebound, and assist totals were all career-highs. Patton records the second triple-double in the conference this season.

Kyle Miller added 11 points and 10 rebounds. It marks the first time EOU had two players record a double-double in the same game since Feb. 26, 2008, when Elise Hawes and Sheena Henderson each had one.

Lynette Minthorn scored a season-high 13 points. Korrie Bourn and Jorie Freeman each finished with 10 points. Freeman also had three blocks. Miller had a game-high four steals as well. The Mountaineers shot 47 percent from the field, 8-of-24 percent from behind the arc, and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line.

Eastern outrebounded the Wolves, 54-26. The Mountaineers had 29 assists, while WWU had 11. The Wolves were forced into 21 turnovers, compared to EOU’s 16. Eastern Oregon had 15 steals to Walla Walla’s one.

The game was tied five times early, but WWU never had the lead in the contest. With EOU leading, 25-23, with 6:40 remaining in the first half, the Mountaineers went on a 19-1 to close the half. Eastern had a 44-24 halftime advantage. EOU stretched the lead to as many as 46 points, 80-34.

The Wolves (3-21) were led by Karly Joseph’s 11 points. She shot 2-of-9 from the field, and made seven of her 15 free-throw attempts. Joseph and Katelynn Taggart each had five rebounds. Taggart threw a team-high four assists. 

EOU was coming off a 44-40 loss to College of Idaho, Friday.

Eastern hosts Warner Pacific College (19-8, 13-3) Friday at 5:30 p.m.

 The Knights beat No. 10 Corban Saturday to move into a tie for first place in the CCC with the Warriors. With two regular season games left, EOU is in fourth place in the conference.