Without star, Clark women beat Portland CC

The Clark Penguins picked up their first women’s basketball win since leading scorer Shantell Jackson went down with a knee injury, rolling past Portland College 89-75 on Tuesday.

Alexa Orcutt went 9 of 14 from the floor and finished with a game-high 27 points for Clark.

The Penguins improved to 3-2 after losing back-to-back games without Jackson. Bryn Tennyson and Megan Pyles each had double-doubles.

Pyles scored 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting and also grabbed 11 rebounds. Tennyson was 5 of 9 from the floor, scored 11 and hauled in 13 boards.

Clark coach Al Aldridge credited Taylor Howlett’s ball-handling as one of the keys to victory.

“Portland pressured us most of the game. She did a really good job. She controlled the game,” Aldridge said. Howlett finished with 13 points, eight assists, and four steals against two turnovers.

The Penguins shot 54 percent from the poor and held Portland to 38 percent.

Caylee Newsom also reached double figures in scoring, finishing with 11 for the Penguins.