COS falls to Lassen in classic, gets back on track at COR

COS guard Natasha Robinson goes up for a layup against Lassen on Jan. 24 in Weed. Robinson had 21 points in a losing effort.

Last week's Golden Valley Conference women's basketball game was such a classic that most in the College of the Siskiyous gym didn't want it to end. But unfortunately for the home crowd and the Eagles, the buzzer sounded with Lassen College ahead 100-97.

“It was just an amazing game,” COS coach Tom Powers said. “The way the shots were falling it, it came down to who had the ball last.”

The Cougars used a barrage of 3-pointers to come back from a 13-point second half deficit. Robin Swain hit seven shots from behind the arc, and Ashlee Currey had six treys, including the bucket that tied the game at 87 with 4:15 to play.

From there, each team traded buckets to a 92-all tie, when Lassen's Katarina Olivo hit a pair of shots inside for a 4-point lead with 1:31 to play.

A Kristi Arness 3-pointer with 20 seconds to play cut the lead to 98-97 for COS. Then on the ensuing inbounds it looked like the Eagles had Lassen trapped in the corner, but Arness was called for a foul and Swain sunk both free throws to go up by 3.

With the clock winding down, a tying 3-point attempt was short and COS didn't get another shot off.

“It looked like we were going to get that steal that would win the game for us, but then it was taken away,” Powers said. “It was one of those games where you don't know what to say afterward.”

The two teams combined to hit 28 3-pointers with Lassen getting over half their points from behind the arc.

Eagle Karlee Myers led all players with 30 points, Natasha Robinson had a career-high 23 and Katie Pollak had 17.

Swain led Lassen with 29 points while Indesha Chatman had 23 and Currey added 20.

Lassen improved to 4-0 in the GVC with the win while COS has now lost a pair of close games following a 17-1 preseason.

The teams looked remarkably similar with strong inside play and high-percentage outside shooting. But the Cougars had the advantage with Currey - an Australian - at point guard while her COS counterpart - New Zealand guard Amanda Harris - missed her sixth game due to an injury.

“They're a real mirror image of us,” Powers said. “We just caught each other on a night where everybody just shot well.”

Siskiyous returned to action by beating College of the Redwoods in Eureka, 88-82. The Eagles led by as many as 10, but couldn't shake the Corsairs.

“We're not making anybody miss too many shots,” Powers said. “They came out and shot great against us too.”

Pollak led COS with a season-high 28 points to go with 10 rebounds. Myers added 22 points on 9-for-12 shooting from the field. Arness had 16 points and 7 assists.

The Eagles return home on Saturday to face Butte, which snapped their 16-game winning streak on Jan. 6 in Oroville.

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