SALEM, Ore. -- The Lewis & Clark Pioneers had the hot hand in the first half of Thursday night's game, shooting 43 percent in the first two quarters and getting 22 points from sophomores Miyah Leith and Natalie Kelly. In the second half, though, the home team Corban Warriors hit 52 percent of their shots to overcome an eight-point halftime deficit, winning 73-65 at C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.
Lewis & Clark followed its 16 of 37 performance in the opening half, in which Leith and Kelly combined for 9 of 17 shooting, with a 37 percent mark in the second half.
Corban placed four players in double figures in a balanced scoring night for the Warriors.
Even though Corban outshot the Pioneers by 15 percent in the third and fourth quarters, both teams started the half hitting from the floor. The teams combined to shoot 8 for 11 in the first four minutes of the third quarter.
Corban's Sadie Pilgeram hit a 3-pointer to start the period before adding another two minutes later. In between, Kelly (pictured right) made a three of her own for the Pioneers before Kailtin Mathewson dropped in a lay-up, giving Lewis & Clark its largest lead of the game, 42-32.
After a pair of Payton Wilcox free throws for Corban, the teams traded baskets. Leith's score with 6:10 remaining in the third quarter moved Lewis & Clark back up by seven. Corban (2-3) outscored the visitors 32-17 the rest of the way.
Leith led the Pioneers in scoring for the third straight game, ending with 20 points, six rebounds and three assists. Kelly finished with a career-best 17 points, the first double-digit scoring game of her career. She also took a career-high 18 shots.
Mathewson dropped in seven points, while Kelley Koeppen brought in six points and four rebounds. Cianna Ochoco added five points and a team-high six assists.
Lauren Wood was the best scorer off either team's bench, putting in eight points for the Pioneers.
Pilgeram led the Warriors with 21 points, Wilcox had 14 points and Julia Young and Jade Lowery added 13 points each. With 11 rebounds in the game, Pilgeram finished with a double-double.
Lewis & Clark (0-3) took care of the ball, committing only 10 turnovers in the game while Corban gave it away 20 times. The Pios managed a 13-11 advantage in points off turnovers.
The Pioneers return home on Tuesday to play Warner Pacific, which like Corban, is from the Cascade Conference. The game starts at 7 p.m.