CALDWELL, Idaho – The Eastern Oregon University women’s basketball team rolled past Walla Walla University, 96-34, Friday afternoon in the first game of the Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Lady Yote Classic.
The Mountaineers (7-2) found themselves down, 2-0, to Walla Walla in the first two minutes of the contest. However, the Mountaineers did not trail long as they tied the game up and took the lead in a 15 second span.
After EOU took the lead the Mountaineers did not look back. With Eastern Oregon leading, 13-5, the Mountaineers went on an 8-0 run to take a 16 point, 21-5, lead. EOU continued to add to its lead as later in the first half, Eastern Oregon went on a 12-0 run to extend its lead to 19 points.
Eastern Oregon took a 44-16 lead into halftime over Walla Walla. The Mountaineers shot 39 percent from the floor in the first half, while holding the Wolves to shoot 18 percent in the first half.
The Mountaineers continued to extend its lead over Walla Walla to start the second half. With EOU leading, 51-20, EOU scored the next ten points, to take a 61-20 lead, after a Lauren Mills tip in.
EOU continued to dominate in the second half over Walla Walla, as they extended its lead to 49 points, 78-29, with seven and a half minutes to go in the contest. Eastern Oregon grew the lead to as many as 63 points in the second half and the Mountaineers came away with a 96-34 victory.
The Mountaineers shot 47 percent from the floor in the second half and 50 percent from behind the arc in the half. For the game, Eastern Oregon shot 43 percent from the floor. The Mountaineers won the rebounding battle as the Mountaineers outrebounded the Wolves, 58-26.
EOU held the Wolves to shoot 19 percent and forced the Wolves into 29 turnovers for the game.
Brittney Newcomb and Lauren Mills led the Mountaineers with 16 points. Taylor Riley followed with 14 points. Mills was 6-of-8 from the field and 4-of-6 from behind the arc. Kelsey Hill led the Mountaineers with 10 rebounds. Newcomb dished out eight assists on the afternoon.
EOU returns to action tomorrow afternoon, Nov. 30, when they face the University of Puget Sound. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. MT, from the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.