Storm Fall Short in Hard-Fought Battle Against Titans

SALEM, Ore. – In a clash of NWAC powerhouses at the Storm Center on Wednesday night, the Chemeketa Storm (12-4, 2-1) couldn't overcome a relentless long-range assault from Lane Community College, eventually falling 73-63.

Despite a late-game surge and gritty performances from their leading scorers, the Storm struggled to contain Lane's perimeter shooting, as the Titans connected on 14 three-pointers to hand Chemeketa their first conference loss of the season.

Game Recap: A Battle of Wills

The Storm found themselves in a hole early as Lane's Gretchen Orton and Maitlin Young found their rhythm from deep. Chemeketa trailed 34-25 at the half, struggling to find an answer for Lane's ball movement and second-chance opportunities. The Titans dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Storm 41-26, which proved to be the ultimate difference-maker.

However, the Storm refused to go quietly. Mia Fullbright and Ella Holwege shouldered the offensive load, each pouring in 19 points. Fullbright was clinical from the charity stripe (5-6), while Holwege showcased her versatility with 8 rebounds and 3 assists.

Defensively, Ava Rubio was a bright spot for the Storm. Rubio's defensive intensity kept Chemeketa within striking distance, as she racked up a game-high 5 steals to go along with her 13 points.

The Turning Point

While Chemeketa actually outscored Lane 21-20 in the final frame, the damage had been done by the Titans' sharpshooters. Lane's 48.3% shooting from beyond the arc was simply too much to overcome. Every time the Storm looked poised to make a run, a timely triple from Orton (22 points, 5 threes) or Young (17 points, 4 threes) seemed to stifle the momentum.

"We showed a lot of heart in the fourth quarter, but against a team like Lane, you can't afford to lose the rebounding battle by fifteen," the Storm coaching staff noted post-game. "We'll learn from this, tighten up our perimeter defense, and get ready for the next one."

Storm Leaders

• Mia Fullbright: 19 PTS, 4 REB, 5-6 FT

• Ella Holwege: 19 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST

• Ava Rubio: 13 PTS, 5 REB, 5 STL

• Ashley Barba (Pictured - 22): 9 PTS, 2 STL

Up Next: The Storm will look to bounce back and maintain their strong standing in the conference as they head on the road for their next matchup.

Photo Credit: The Athlete Studio     Instagram: @theAthlete_Studio