UCC Sports
Last Game Of The 2015 Volleyball Season
The women’s volleyball team ended up their season in the red with a young team that included only two sophomores under coach Lacy Pinard.
The team played 28 games including tournaments in Des Moines, Washington, in Everett, Washington and in Gresham, Oregon.
Payne signs with Eastern Washington Eagles
After two illustrious seasons, UCC sophomore Ashli Payne made an April 15 announcement that she was headed back to her home state of Washington to finish her college basketball career.
Payne, a two-time NWAC south region player of the year, signed on National Signing Day (First day recruits can sign with prospective colleges) letter of intent with the division one Eastern Washington Eagles out of Cheney, Washington to play basketball for the 2015-16 season.
Madrid-Andrews signs with Chicago State
As long as UCC’s Jordan Madrid-Andrews can remember, he has dreamt of playing division one basketball. That dream has become a reality. On April 16, Madrid-Andrews signed a national letter of intent with the Chicago State Cougars to play basketball in the upcoming 2015-16 season.
The 6’7’’ forward was a focal point on a Riverhawk (19-11 overall, 10-4 south) men’s basketball team that not only qualified for the Northwest Athletic Conference tournament, but improved its previous seasons win total by 13 games.
After spending his freshmen season at Western State Colorado University, Madrid-Andrews transferred to Umpqua unsure if his goal of playing at the highest level of college basketball would become a reality.
Women bring home third place trophy
KENNEWICK, Washington – Sawyer Kluge hit six 3-pointers in the final 10 minutes of the second half to rally the UCC women’s basketball team to a, 82-80, victory over the Southern Oregon Lakers Tuesday at the Toyota Center. The victory secured a third place finish for the Riverhawks in the Northwest Athletic Conference tournament.
“I’m glad I was able to help get our team back in the game,” Kluge said. “We needed someone to give us a spark. I felt so good to shoot well, after not shooting well for so long.”
Kluge finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Ashli Payne finished one assist shy of a triple double. Payne scored a game high 29 points and pulled down 12 boards to go with nine assists. Romanalyn Inocencio added 13 points and six assists.
NWAC TOURNAMENT RESULTS
The No. 1 ranked UCC women’s basketball team’s quest for a Northwest Athletic Conference championship ended Mon. March 9 with an 84-70 loss to the No. 4 ranked Peninsula Pirates at the Toyota Center.
“I wish I could say we lost tonight just because Peninsula outrebounded us offensively, or because they hit more three’s than we did, or scored more second chance points,” head coach Dave Stricklin said. “But it wasn’t just one thing they did, they beat us in every possible way they could beat a team.”
Riverhawk Men Take 3rd in League in Overtime Thriller
WINCHESTER – The Umpqua Community College men’s basketball team finished the regular season in dramatic fashion with a thrilling, 86-81, overtime victory against the visiting Mt. Hood Saints Saturday. The win secured the No. 3 seed out of the southern region for the Riverhawks in the Northwest Athletic Conference tournament. The top four teams from each region will meet in Kennewick, Washington Saturday, March 7, for the right to play for the NWAC championship.
“It was a great game, tonight,” head coach Daniel Leeworthy said. “I thought the crowd gave us good energy towards the end of the game. We were behind all game and we caught up, forced overtime and got down again. We showed that mental toughness that we’ve been stressing for so long with this team. I’m just so proud of our guys tonight.”
Riverhawks make final push toward playoffs
Some say that March comes in like a lion. With the way Umpqua’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are playing, it may be a bit more like a Riverhawk.
On the horizon, both teams can see the Northwest Athletic Conference championships staring them in the face. The Umpqua women’s team sits perched atop the NWAC as the No. 1 ranked team.
Umpqua escapes Panthers
A win’s a win; just ask the Northwest Athletic Conference’s No. 1 ranked Umpqua Community College women’s basketball team. UCC overcame 27 turnovers to defeat the visiting Portland Community College Cougars Saturday, 79-76.
“We are really fortunate to come out of this one with a win,” head coach Dave Stricklin said. “So much of our schedule comes down to how you match-up with different teams. Whether those teams are smaller or more aggressive, we have been able to beat teams regardless of how we match-up.”
Riverhawk women wipe glass with Saints
If the first half of league play is any indication of what’s to come, the UCC women’s basketball team just might be in pretty good shape heading into the Northwest Athletic Conference tournament.
The Riverhawks (19-2 overall, 6-0 league) destroyed the Saints on the glass, with a 61-35 rebounding advantage, that led to a 65-49 defeat of the Mt. Hood Saints (4-17, 0-6).
Cougars falter, men win game-ending thriller
"Tonight was the best win I've been a part of since coaching at UCC." - Daniel Leeworthy
Titus Rice’s go-ahead lay-in with 51 seconds on the clock gave the UCC men’s basketball team a crucial home victory 76-75 over the visiting Clackamas Cougars Saturday.
Top ranked Riverhawks drop Lane to maintain first
In a clash between Northwest Athletic Conference heavyweights, the No. 1 ranked Umpqua Community College women’s basketball team earned a crucial victory at home over No. 5 ranked Lane Community College, 69-61. The Riverhawks’ (15-2, 2-0) Jan. 14 win over the league rival Titans (14-4, 1-1) created a bit of breathing room atop the NWAC South standings.
Titans muscle past Riverhawks in league tilt
The Lane Community College men’s basketball team handed the Umpqua Community College men’s team their first home loss, 70-49. The Titans (9-7, 1-1) exacted a bit of revenge over a previous 83-67 defeat at the hands of the Riverhawks (10-6, 1-1) on Dec. 13. Lane held UCC to its lowest point total of the season after Umpqua entered the contest with a one game lead atop the Northwest Athletic Conference south region.
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Fresh start, fine stats for new 2014-15 pre-season: ’Hawks 4-0
UCC men’s basketball team brings a new attitude to the 2014-15 season.
Averaging over 94 points per game, the Riverhawks boast a potentially impressive offensive team. Umpqua (4-0) is off to a fine start for the season, remaining undefeated after playing three games at home and one away.
Riverhawks look to contend for NWAC title
The Umpqua Community College women’s basketball team enters the 2014-15 season with unfinished business. The Riverhawks heartbreaking 86-74 loss to Columbia Basin in last year’s NWAC championship game culminated into a second place finish for Umpqua, and resulted in the team’s best season in 14 years.
With a core group of sophomores returning, and a talented freshman class ready to contribute, a repeat of last season’s success isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
“We really set a goal after last season to make it back to the NWAC championships, and get back to that game,” sophomore Marcel Ortiz said. “Everything we have done from last spring through summer, and up until now, was all with that goal in mind.”
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Cheetah night in the Riverhawk nest
As fans showed up for the second to last home game of the Riverhawks’ volleyball season, they were greeted by a beautiful setting sun, a darkening walk from the parking lot to the gym, and then an unusual encounter with a 100 pound cheetah.
Khayam, Wildlife Safari’s male ambassador cheetah, was brought to the game to encourage attendance as well as to educate about his species. Sarah Roy, Supervisor of Carnivore/Cheetah department, talked with spectators about the 2.5-year-old cheetah.
Volleyball team wraps up disappointing season
It was business as usual for the Riverhawk volleyball team in its Nov 11 match-up with the Chemeketa Storm. UCC entered the contest matching its season high eight game losing streak, and in search of their first conference victory in two years.
The Storm (22-14, 6-3 NWAC South) put an immediate halt to Umpqua’s (8-33, 0-9) hope for a victory by dealing them yet another loss with a straight set shellacking 25-14, 25-11, 25-9. It was their twenty-fourth straight set loss of the year.
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Pink Night Scores a Victory
The Riverhawk volleyball team walked away from their October 22 match against Multnomah University with more than just a victory. UCC had only one win in their past ten matches, and were riding an eight game losing streak entering their match-up at the Hawk Nest. Read More
Riverhawks Two Players Down as Season Ends
Picture a movie where something bad happens and as the character tries to be optimistic, it begins to rain. That rain just turned to a torrential downpour showering the Riverhawks as the team fights to finish the season strong.
Umpqua, who closed last year with a 0-10, 7-33 record, is currently 0-5, 7-18 and quickly approaching the end of another short season.
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Pool opening creates a splash
To some it seemed like a millennium since the Umpqua Community College’s swimming pool was operational. Well sunny days are here again.
The 225,000 gallon pool was filled with water in just over 48 hours, leaving students, faculty, and community members abuzz with excitement. Read More
Leeworthy to lead summer recreations
Growing up in Melbourne, Australia, Daniel Leeworthy’s life revolved around water. With summer right around the corner, and the opening of the Umpqua Community College swimming pool, Summer Recreation Director Leeworthy may be feeling right back at home again.
As Summer Recreation Director Leeworthy will act as manager of the pool. Read More
Baseball proposal is out: next year’s budget shortfall eliminates hope for Riverhawk baseball
It has been more than 25 years since Umpqua Community College fielded a baseball team. Next year’s projected budgetary shortfall is going to make the wait for America’s favorite pastime a little bit longer.
The idea of getting the Riverhawks back on the diamond has been in the works for a number of years. Over this past year, the issue had gained a lot of steam and appeared to be on the verge of becoming more of a reality than a possibility. Read More
Riverhawk battle ends in runner up finish
A heartbreaking end to an otherwise successful season for the Umpqua Community College women’s basketball team came Tuesday evening, March 4 at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington.
An estimated 1100 hostile Columbia Basin Hawk fans made a short journey from Pasco and the surrounding Tri-Cities to support their local team in the championship final. Their effect on the game was evident from tip-off. Read More
NWAACC Game 3: vs Blue Mountain
Umpqua Community College women’s basketball team continued their championship quest behind dominating performances from the inside/outside tandem of sophomores Asia Smith and Kyndal Charleston.
Smith scored 15 points and grabbed a game-high 19 rebounds, while Charleston buried six of her eight 3-point attempts, leading to a team-high 25 points, and the right to play for the championship Tuesday evening at the Toyota Center. Read More
NWAACC Game 2: vs Walla Walla
It was a tale of two halves at the Toyota Center Sunday afternoon. For twenty minutes the No. 8 Walla Walla Warriors gave the No. 3 Umpqua Community College women’s basketball team all they could handle.
UCC (23-6, 10-2 South) blistered the Warriors (19-8, 12-2 East) in the second-half from 3-point range, shooting 60 percent on 9/15 shooting, allowing them to roll into the third round and continue their quest for a NWAACC championship. Read More
NWAACC Game 1: vs Centralia
Looking to bring home their first championship since 2000, the Umpqua Community College women’s basketball team left little doubt about their readiness following a 38 point blow-out of the Centralia Trailblazers in a final 88-50 score.
Umpqua guard Kyndal Charleston scorched the Blazers (14-13, 10-6) with 17 first-half points, while forward Leilani Morris took over the second-half dropping 18 of her game-high 20 points.
With three minutes into the contest, freshman Ashli Payne’s lay-in gave the Riverhawks (22-6, 10-2) their first lead of the ballgame. UCC would not look back. Charleston and Payne’s back-to-back 3-pointers with 5:25 to play pushed Umpqua’s lead to 31-18. Read More
UCC men charge past Linn-Benton, 65-55
In the final home game for Umpqua Community College men’s basketball team, a trio of sophomores made the most of it.
Guards Torrmall Thomas and Chris Mock sparked a 25-6 first-half run, combining for 17 points. Point guard Mishima Gray picked up the slack in the second-half, scoring 16 of his game high 19 points, en route to a 65-55 Riverhawk victory. Read More
Storm escapes hawk nest
In a rollercoaster match-up against the Chemeketa Storm (12-12 8-4 South) the UCC men’s basketball team gave them all they could handle.
The short-handed Riverhawks (5-19 1-11 South) were down early in the contest as Chemeketa would go on an 8-0 run in the first three minutes taking an 11-4 lead. The Storm continued their push before UCC responded with its first-half fight fans have become accustomed to. Read More
Riverhawks devour Lane
In the biggest basketball game of the year for Umpqua Community College, (18-5, 7-1 South) Kyndal Charleston came through at the most important time.
Charleston buried five 3-pointers in the first fifteen minutes of the contest, and the Riverhawks capitalized on a dismal shooting performance by Lane Community College (19-5, 6-2 South) to win in dominating fashion 85-66. Read More
Second half Titans
It was a tale of two halves for the UCC men’s squad in a Feb. 5 loss to the Lane Titans (12-11, 5-4 South). After a hard-fought first half battle, Lane capitalized on their size in the backcourt and handed the Riverhawks (5-16, 1-8 South) an 86-67 setback. Read More
Enter the house of Payne
With the kind of season that 5’11’’ freshman guard Ashli Payne has been having, opponents in the NWAACC take notice. Payne’s 53 point performance in a Feb. 1 victory against Portland spoke volumes. Payne recorded one of the greatest individual performances in UCC women’s basketball history. Read More
The Stricklin effect
Umpqua Community College will never have to worry about hindsight following a 1995 decision that made Dave Stricklin, head coach of its women’s basketball team.
Now into his 19th season, the success of UCC basketball is evident. What is hard to calculate is the profound effect coach Stricklin’s had with players on and off the court. Read More
Pool renovations may seem shallow but much progression being made off-site
If you are wondering what is going on with the UCC pool, you are not the only one. Thankfully, some light has been shed on the status of the eye-sore project. The swimming pool, out of commission since April 2011, is on track to reopen its gates by May 2014. Read More
Men’s effort evident, not quite enough
If Saturday night’s basketball game was determined by effort and toughness, the UCC’s mens team would have won their contest versus the Mt. Hood Saints hands-down. The men may have been a perceived underdog going into a matchup against the Mt. Hood team that boasted an enormous front line, but it did not show a bit in a heart-breaking 73-70 loss to Mt. Hood (15-5, 4-3 NWAACC South) on Jan. 25. Read More
Riverhawks wipe boards with Mt. Hood
The women’s basketball team (15-5, 5-1 NWAACC South) maintained their first place standing tied atop the conference by defeating the Mt. Hood Saints (2-17, 0-6 NWAACC South) on the back of a dominating performance on the boards, and an impressive effort from their bench. Read More
Baseball proposal going to the Board
After more than 25 years without a baseball team, UCC is looking to bring America’s favorite pastime back to the college.
According to Athletic Director Cheryl Yoder, the reason for the proposal of reinstating the baseball program is to help raise enrollment as well as gain more community interest and involvement. Read More
Basketball season opens
The men and women played their second home game Jan. 15 against Southwestern Oregon Community College with a win for the women (87-70) and a loss for the men (82-60). Read More
Solo sophomore “sets” up future for flower business
Danae Perkey, the sole sophomore on the Riverhawk volleyball team, is traveling the unconventional path to success. She may not go on to play volleyball at a university like many college athletes strive toward, but she’s OK with that. Perkey has a different definition of fulfillment—owning her own flower shop. Read More
Riverhawks reflect on 2013 season
This year has been full of valleys, but every valley has a mountain peak somewhere. Outside hitter Mariah Gladden, deffensive specialist Jocelyn Valencia, middle blocker Kelsey Warren and setter Danae Perkey share their mountain top experiences on this journey. Read More
Diggin’ hope: A cause for the cure
The Umpqua volleyball team had high spirits as they came into a pink gym for their game versus Linn-Benton Community College on Friday, Oct. 11.
The gym was decorated with pink balloons, streamers, posters and the players even wore pink jerseys in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. While honoring those who have suffered from breast cancer, the awareness had a financial impact as well. Read More
Front row from left to right: Jocelyn Valencia, Katelyn Knight
Taken by storm
Coming off a loss to Linn-Benton the night before, the Lady ‘Hawks fell short again after three games against the Chemeketa Storm on Oct. 12. Umpqua (0-4 in conference, 2-10 overall) could not get going, resulting in a short match. Having received a minor concussion in the game the night before, Kathryn Epler was forced to sit out the entire match. Read More