In terms of basketball; you win by a few points, you squeak out with the victory; you win by ten points, it’s a dominating performance; you win by at least 30 points, you just wonder wheither or not you should’ve pulled the plug by now.

As for the Southen Oregon University Lady Raiders, they won their last two games by that 30-point margin this past weekend that featured a 32 point victory over Simpson University on Saturday and a 29-point victory over California Maritime Academy on Sunday.

“With every game, there are certain things that if we do well, we will be successful.” said SOU head coach Lynn Kennedy, “If we score at a high percentage, keep them to a low field goal percentage and rebound- we will give ourselves a chance to win.”

But this Friday, the Raiders are expecting a closer game with cross-state rivial, the 10th-ranked Moutaineers of Eastern Oregon University.

The Raiders (12-1, 2-0 CCC) have a half-game lead in a virtual four-way tie with the Moutainneers (11-2, 2-0 CCC), Oregon Tech, and College of Idaho in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.

Southern Oregon has the lead based on their overall record.

“Eastern is a very good experienced team and it will be a challenge to step up and compete at that level.” said Kennedy of the Moutaineers.

Friday will feature Southern Oregon’s third-ranked, 92.8 point a game offense led by four time NAIA Player of the Week, junior guard Melissa Sweat.  

Sweat is averaging 19.7 points a game, shooting 50-percent from three-point land offensively while averaging 4.2 rebounds and a team lead 12 blocks.

“Melissa as well as all of our players have stepped up and accepted their roles and created a great team atmosphere and that is why we are so successful so far in the this season.” said Kennedy.

The Raiders will be faced with Eastern Oregon’s number two scoring defense in the nation, opponents are only scoring 56.7 points a game.  Their defense feature’s Korrie Bourn’s 6.7 rebounds a game, Jorie Freeman’s team high 15 blocks, and Nic Reed and Bourn’s abilites to steal the ball.  Reed is averaging two steals a game and Bourn is averaging 1.9 a game respectively for the Moutaineers.

There is always that one question heading into a game with an ranked opponent, how will you adjust to such a challenge compare to an un-ranked opponent?

“It doesn’t change for us.  We still have to look on what we do well and things that we need to work on. During practice we focus on those things and try to get better every week.” started Kennedy, “It really doesn’t matter who we play, we have a level of play that we are trying to achieve.”

The good thing about his team, Kennedy mentioned, was that he has so much great talent in his players, that it is difficult to say “your our go to person” in any game.

With great upside, come great possibility one philospher had said.  With the talent the Raiders bring to the table, it’s easy to say that they are aiming high on the Moutaineers Friday night.

The in-state battle royal is set for 5:30pm at Bob Rheim Arena in Ashland.