Riverhawks Complete 10-Point 4th Quarter Comeback to Defeat Olympic 74-70

PASCO, Wash. - The Umpqua Riverhawks secured a comeback 74-70 victory over Olympic in game five of the 2025 NWAC Women's Basketball Championship presented by Golf Universe on Thursday at Columbia Basin College.

The Riverhawks overcame a 10-point deficit with 6:49 to play in the fourth quarter to outscore Olympic 21-7 to end the game. Umpqua's defensive switch to a back court press forced the Rangers offense out of its rhythm that was highly effective during the first three and a half quarters.

Rebekah Beltran led the Riverhawks with a standout performance, scoring 26 points while making 8 of 12 field goal attempts, including 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. Beltran was key for UCC through the first three quarters as she kept the team in the game despite trailing by as many as 10 points. She also contributed 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Brooklyn Fely was dominant on the boards, securing 16 rebounds, with 3 on the offensive end, and added 8 points and 2 assists. Male'ata Polamalu made significant contributions with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Kierra Bennett was effective defensively, recording 3 steals and adding 7 total rebounds to her stat line.

UCC (28-2) struggled with turnovers in the first quarter, committing nine, which contributed to the Rangers' 19-11 lead. OC capitalized on UCC's errors, scoring 12 points in the paint and making all four free throws. Turnovers continued to be an issue in the second quarter for UCC as they committed eight, allowing the Rangers fast-paced offense to strike in transition.

In the third quarter, UCC outscored OC 16-15, narrowing the gap with efficient shooting, making seven of 13 field goal attempts, including one three-pointer. The Riverhawks excelled in rebounding with 11 defensive boards and also displayed strong ball movement, recording six assists.

The Riverhawks outscored the Rangers 29-16 in the fourth quarter to secure a 74-70 victory. Despite trailing by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter, UCC's Rebekah Beltran led the charge with key contributions, including shooting five-for-six from the free-throw line in the closing moments. The Riverhawks capitalized on free throws, converting 14 of 20 attempts, and dominated the boards with a 12-3 rebounding advantage in the final quarter. The Riverhawks' defense also played a pivotal role, recording five steals and limiting the Rangers' fast break opportunities. Remarkably, the Riverhawks overcame 30 turnovers throughout the game to secure the win.

Allie Greene stood out for OC (20-9), scoring 19 points and making 6-of-7 free throws. Greene also contributed seven rebounds and four assists. Trian Clark also made a significant impact with 15 points, shooting 5-of-10 from the field while adding five rebounds and two assists. Alannah Northam was a defensive powerhouse, recording six steals and scoring 16 points with five rebounds and three assists.

The Riverhawks move onto the Elite 8 round of the tournament and will face the winner of Lower Columbia vs. Columbia Basin on Friday at 2 p.m.