Road Warriors: Storm Improve to 2-0 in NWAC Play with Decisive Win at Linn-Benton

ALBANY, Ore. – The Chemeketa Storm continues to prove they are a force to be relied on this season. Riding a wave of momentum, the Storm (12-3, 2-0 NWAC) traveled to Albany on Wednesday night and dismantled Linn-Benton Community College, securing an 81-68 victory.

The win marks a perfect 2-0 start to conference play for Chemeketa, showcasing a balanced offensive attack and a defense that refused to give an inch.

Game Summary

Storm Weather the Road Trip

While road games in the NWAC are notoriously difficult, Chemeketa made it look like a home track for the first three quarters. The Storm's offense was firing on all cylinders during the middle frames, outscoring the Roadrunners 53-35 across the second and third quarters.

By the time the fourth quarter began, Chemeketa had built a commanding 23-point lead. Though Linn-Benton managed to chip away at the deficit during a late fourth-quarter surge, the game was never truly in doubt thanks to the Storm's early dominance.

Key Contributors

The Storm saw contributions from up and down the roster, but the starters set a physical tone early:

• Ava Rubio: Following her high-scoring performance against Clark, Rubio remained hot, leading the Storm with 17 points on an efficient 8-of-14 shooting while dishing out 4 assists.

• Patricia Mike: A consistent threat, Mike tallied 16 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, proving to be a mismatch for the LBCC perimeter defenders. Pictured - 4

• Ella Holwege: The double-double machine was at it again. Holwege dominated the glass with a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with 11 points.

• Mia Fullbright: Steering the ship from the point, Fullbright added 11 points and matched Rubio with 4 assists.

Bench Spark & Defensive Pressure

A major story of the night was the play of Bethany Villegas. Coming off the bench, Villegas was a defensive nightmare for the Roadrunners, racking up 5 steals in just 16 minutes of play.

The Storm defense held Linn-Benton to a dismal 29.5% shooting from the field. Perhaps most impressively, Chemeketa displayed elite ball security, committing only 6 turnovers the entire game—a testament to the team's discipline and chemistry.

By the Numbers

• Ball Security: Chemeketa's 6 turnovers vs. Linn-Benton's 17.

• Paint Presence: The Storm hauled in 46 rebounds, including 13 on the offensive end.

• Conference Standings: Chemeketa moves to 2-0 in league play, sitting at the top of the table.

Photo Credit: The Athlete Studio     Instagram: @TheAthlete_Studio