CHENEY, Wash. - The Warner Pacific women's basketball team gave a strong challenge at Eastern Washington today, falling 58-47 to the NCAA Div. I Eagles.
EWU scored the first eight points of the game, but Warner Pacific charged back with a 13-3 run, which gave the visiting team a two-point advantage with under nine minutes to play in the half. The two teams traded baskets the rest of the way, and went into the locker room in a 25-25 deadlock.
The second half was better on both ends for EWU, as it shot 43 percent from the field, and held the Knights to just 8-of-33, including an 0-of-7 effort from long range. Eastern found its edge by attacking the lane, as it out-scored WPC in points in the paint, 22-12. The Eagles also had 10 fast break points in the second period, compared to zero for the Knights.
The Eagles scored the first seven points coming out of the locker room, and held onto that lead rest of the way. They led by as many as 14 midway through the period, but WPC managed to hang around, and cut it to eight with less than four minutes on the clock. Junior Aubrey Ashenfelter hit a three to put Eastern back up by double-digits and sophomore Lexie Nelson sealed it with a layup at the 1:34-mark.
Morgan Wolff was the top scorer for the Knights, dropping in 13 on 5 of 11 shooting. Chelsey Christensen (11) and Nichole Jackson (10) also scored in double figures.
WPC will resume Cascade Conference play with a trip to Northwest University next Friday evening.