From Deficit to Dominance: Storm Blow Past Clark in Second-Half Rout

SALEM, Ore. — After a slow start at the Storm Center on Monday night, the Chemeketa Storm found their rhythm in spectacular fashion. Using a massive 27–13 scoring swing in the third quarter, Chemeketa erased a halftime deficit to pull away for a commanding 81–63 win over the Clark College Penguins.

The Turning Point

The first half was a defensive grind, with the Storm (now 1-0 in NWAC play) trailing 33–28 at the intermission. However, the atmosphere shifted the moment Chemeketa took the floor for the second half.

The Storm erupted for 27 points in the third frame while stifling the Penguins' offense, turning a five-point deficit into a nine-point lead. Chemeketa refused to take their foot off the gas in the fourth, outscoring Clark 26–17 to turn a once-tight contest into an 18-point blowout.

Star Performances

The Storm's victory was fueled by a trio of elite individual performances that kept the home crowd of 100 on their feet:

• Ava Rubio (Pictured - 4): Set the pace for the Storm, leading the scoring effort with 23 points. Rubio was a force across the entire stat sheet, flirting with a triple-double by adding 8 rebounds and 7 assists.

• Patricia Mike: Provided the perimeter spark, finishing with 22 points. Mike was lethal from distance, accounting for nearly half of the team's triples with four three-pointers.

• Ella Holwege: Delivered a performance for the ages. Holwege was technically perfect from the floor, shooting 6-for-6 (100%) overall and 3-for-3 from beyond the arc for 17 points. She also led the team in multiple hustle categories with 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks.

Efficiency by the Numbers

Chemeketa's ball movement and shot selection were the stories of the night. The Storm finished with 19 assists on 29 made baskets, showcasing a selfless offensive scheme that Clark simply couldn't track.

While Clark relied heavily on the free-throw line to stay relevant early, the Storm's defense eventually locked in. Chemeketa held the Penguins to a mere 32.3% shooting from the field and forced 16 turnovers, effectively neutralizing Clark's Mia Hicks-Oliver in the second half.

Up Next

With this statement win, the Storm move into the heart of their conference schedule with significant momentum. The combination of elite perimeter shooting and a dominant interior presence makes Chemeketa a team to watch as the NWAC season unfolds.

Photo Credit: The Athlete Studio     Instagram: @TheAthlete_Studio