Storm Defense Stifles Roadrunners in 58-39 Home Victory

SALEM, Ore. — The Chemeketa Storm (16-6, 6-3) utilized a dominant defensive performance and a strong fourth-quarter surge to pull away from the Linn-Benton Roadrunners (7-16, 4-6) for a 58-39 win at the Storm Center on Wednesday night. Holding their opponents to just 21.2% shooting from the field, the Storm secured their sixth conference victory of the season.

Locking Down the Storm Center

From the opening tip, points were hard to come by for both squads in a physical defensive battle. Chemeketa held a narrow 8-6 lead after the first quarter but began to find their rhythm in the second, outscoring Linn-Benton 16-8 to take a ten-point cushion into halftime.

The Storm's defensive pressure was the story of the game, as they swiped 14 steals and forced 17 Roadrunner turnovers. Ella Holwege was a catalyst on the perimeter, recording a game-high 5 steals to go along with 11 rebounds and 15 points, securing a double-double in 35 minutes of action.

Rubio and Holwege Power the Offense

While the defense set the tone, Ava Rubio provided the necessary offensive spark to put the game out of reach. Rubio led all scorers with 18 points, shooting 7-of-15 from the floor and adding 8 rebounds and 3 assists.

After Linn-Benton narrowly outscored the Storm 14-13 in the third quarter to keep the game competitive, Chemeketa responded with a decisive 21-11 run in the final frame. Patricia Mike contributed 9 points and 3 steals, while Mia Fullbright and Ashley Barba anchored the interior with 8 rebounds apiece.

By the Numbers

The Storm dominated the glass and the turnover battle, overcoming their own shooting struggles to secure the double-digit win.

Looking Ahead

With the win, Chemeketa moves to 6-3 in conference play, maintaining their position near the top of the standings. The Storm will look to carry this defensive momentum into their next matchup as they continue their push toward the postseason.

Photo Credit: The Athlete Studio     Instagram: @TheAthlete_Studio