Anyone who ever saw Loree Payne play basketball at the University of Washington knew the standout thrived behind a killer instinct.
As the second-year women’s coach at Puget Sound, that never-let-up style has been slow to develop.
But Payne thinks it is coming, and after The Evergreen State College started the second half on a run, the Loggers pulled away for a 66-44 nonconference victory at the CRC Gymnasium.
UPS (6-2) has won 12 of the 13 meetings against the Geoducks (2-6).
Kelsey McKinnis led three Loggers in double figures with 14 points. Jocelyn Riordan added 12, and is now 29 points from becoming just the eighth UPS player to crack 1,200 points for her career.
“One of our goals is to put teams away – when we get up and get a little bit of momentum, not letting teams back in,” Payne said. “It has been a challenge for us. That will come with experience, growth and maturity.”
Danielle Swain paced Evergreen with 16 points and 16 rebounds.
UPS started hot, bolting to a 14-1 lead. And the Geoducks began ice cold, missing their first 12 field-goal attempts before ending their drought with Sami Clark’s bucket at the 12:08 mark of the first half.
“We were not playing team basketball,” Evergreen coach Monica Heuer said.
Evergreen hung around on Swain’s scoring. And when Jessica Edge’s corner 3-pointer capped a 5-0 run to start the second half, the Geoducks trailed 27-20 with 18:27 to go. But Swain came out for a few minutes limping with a right foot injury.
UPS answered on its own 5-0 spurt, capped by Riordan’s basket off a steal, to take a 32-20 advantage.
And it grew to 41-24 over the next 31/2 minutes, highlighted by Ashley Agcaioili’s no-look, over-the-shoulder basket that led to a three-point play.
“I definitely see signs of progress,” Riordan said. “Today we put them away, much better than we have in the past.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL
UPS 69, at Evergreen 59: The Loggers played a near-perfect final 91/2 minutes of the first half to take control.
UPS (8-0) went on a 25-2 run to turn a deficit into a 41-22 lead. Anthony Gittens scored 20 for the Loggers.
Derek Jobe’s steal and layup gave the Loggers a 41-22 lead with 1:08 to go in the half. UPS is 8-0 for the first time since 1980-81.
Patrick Lewis and Tyrell Stephens each scored 15 for the Geoducks in their home opener.
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