TWIN FALLS - The College of Southern Idaho Women's Basketball team knocked off Salt Lake CC for the second time of the season, beating the Bruins 66-53 for the Region 18 Championship Saturday.
Four Golden Eagle players scored in double digits but it was a complete team effort defensively that fueled the CSI win. The Golden Eagles held the Bruins to a 34 percent field goal percentage and a 18 percent 3-point field goal percentage. CSI also out-rebounded SLCC 41-39 and forced the Bruins into 15 turnovers compared to just nine for the Golden Eagles.
Both teams battled to a 30-all tie at the half. But the Golden Eagles came out of the locker room on a 7-0 run and never trailed again. CSI pushed the lead to 10 but Salt Lake continued to fight until Matti Ventling drove in the final dagger. With 2:30 left in the game and the shot clock running out, Ventling heaved up a deep 3-pointer to give CSI the 62-49 lead that the Bruins couldn't recover from.
Salt Lake had no answer for Region 18 Tournament MVP Kandiss Barber. The forward finished the game with 20 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Ventling added 10 points and eight rebounds, while Brianna Osorio scored 14 points to go with four rebounds and three steals. Samantha Lubcke played huge inside, scoring 13 points, pulling down 11 rebounds and blocking three shots.
Ventling and Osorio both earned all-tournament honors. Other players named to the all-tournament team included Sydnee Taylor and Tilar Clark of Salt Lake CC and Shelby Cloninger.
CSI, now 28-4, will compete in the NJCAA National Tournament March 14-19 in Lubbock, Texas.