Samantha Flett scored 11 points for Eastern against Whitman.
WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- The Eastern Oregon University women's basketball team watched an 11-point halftime lead slip away in the second half, before falling at Whitman College, 56-52.
The NCAA Div. 3 Missionaries trailed the entire first half to the Mountaineers, but crawled back into the game in the second half despite shooting just 33 percent from the field in the game. However, Whitman outrebounded EOU 40-27.
Salena Leavitt led the Mountaineers with 12 points, and Samantha Flett and Ashlee Michelson each scored 11 points. Eastern had a chance to tie the score at 54 with 1.7 seconds remaining in regulation, but missed a pair of free throws. EOU made eight of its 16 free throw attempts.
Eastern Oregon made 50 percent of its shots from the field in the first half, but were held to 5 of 17 shooting in the second half. EOU shot 66 percent from behind the perimeter.
This was a rematch of a meeting won by the Mountaineers on Nov. 28 at the Lady 'Yote Classic in Caldwell, Idaho, 62-53.
Saturday the Missionaries were paced by Kelly Peterson's 14 points and 13 rebounds. Michelle Krall and Mary Madden each added 13 points, and Hilary White had 10 points.
Eastern Oregon hosts No. 11 Southern Oregon Friday in the Cascade Collegiate Conference home opener. The Raiders currently sit atop the league standings and have won three straight over the Mountaineers.