Box Score

KLAMATH FALLS – Southern Oregon overcame a nine-point first-half deficit and withstood a late William Jessup rally to earn a 68-65 women's basketball victory Friday night at the Midland Empire Insurance Classic hosted by Oregon Tech.

The Raiders improved to 7-0 overall this season, while William Jessup fell to 0-6. Southern Oregon returns home for its next contest, hosting Montreat Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Bob Riehm Arena.

Haley Newell (Santa Monica, Calif./) led the way for SOU with 17 points, with Nalani Hernandez (Tucson, Ariz./Tucson) tallying 14 points and seven rebounds. Josi McDermott (Ashland, Ore./Ashland) finished with 10 points as the Raiders shot 36.0 percent (18-of-50) from the field in the game.

Maria Viola connected on five three-pointers in the game to score a game-high 25 points. Cassie Davidson scored 13 for the Warriors, and Lindsey Cesena grabbed 10 rebounds.

William Jessup took an early lead with a hot opening six minutes of the contest. With the game tied 7-7 four minutes in, Maria Viola hit a free throw to give the Warriors the lead, then connected on a three-pointer the next time down the court. Cesena hit a three on the Warriors' next possession, and a jumper by Brittany Smith made it 16-7.

The Raiders used a seven-point run later in the first half to pull within two points at 29-27. Newell scored all seven points for SOU, knocking down a three-pointer before hitting a pair of free throws and a jumper. Southern Oregon tied it up at 31-31, but Davidson made a three to put WJU up 34-31 at halftime.

Southern Oregon used a 15-4 run in the opening minutes of the second half to take an eight-point lead, sparked by three-pointers from Newell, McDermott and Hernandez. William Jessup responded with a 10-2 run to tie it up at 48-48 with 10:08 remaining in the game.

Another SOU run put the Raiders up by nine with 6:08 to play, as the Raiders hit seven consecutive free throws. They held the nine-point advantage until the final 159 seconds of the contest, when a pair of three-pointers from Viola pulled WJU within four with 1:26 remaining.

The Raiders made three of four free throw attempts down the stretch to protect their lead after Alyssa Wright's jumper made it 65-63 with 39 seconds to go. Wright made a pair of free throws at the end of the game, but the Raiders held on for the 68-65 win.