WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Eastern Oregon University women’s basketball could not overcome a cold shooting first half and were defeated by NCAA Division III Whitman College, 78-65, Saturday evening. After shooting 30 percent in the first half the Mountaineers heated up and shot 52 percent in the second half.
Brittney Newcomb led the Mountaineers with 23 points and Taylor Riley followed with 14. Whitman’s Sarah Anderegg scored a game-high 32 points.
EOU found themselves in an early hole, as the Mountaineers went the first three minutes without field goal. Newcomb made the first shot for EOU at the 17 minute mark trimming Whitman’s lead to two points, 5-3. However, Whitman continued to extend its lead and grew the lead to 9-3 before Eastern Oregon made another shot.
Eastern Oregon continued to battle but the shooting struggles continued. With EOU down 16-10, with 12 minutes to go in the first half the Missionaries grew the lead to 14 points, 24-10, and held the Mountaineers without a field goal or point for two and a half minutes.
The Mountaineers continued cut into the Whitman’s lead and after a pair of free throws by Madeline Laan, Eastern Oregon was down, 24-18. However, the Missionaries went on a 15-0 run to take a 39-18 lead over EOU. The Mountaineers continued to battle but EOU went into halftime trailing, 41-25.
Eastern Oregon shot 30 percent in the first half, while Whitman shot 48 percent in the first half.
The Mountaineers shooting looked as if it was starting to heat up in the second half and Eastern Oregon started to mount a comeback. After a Newcomb three pointer, the Mountaineers found themselves down 13 points, 46-33. However, Whitman continued to hold a commanding lead and with 15 minutes to go in the game, EOU trailed 53-35.
Eastern Oregon continued to battle and cut the Missionaries lead down to 13 points, 58-45, after a layup by Kassy Larson. After EOU cut the lead to 13, Whitman grew its lead back to 17 points, 64-47, after a Sarah Anderegg layup.
With EOU down 17, 64-47, with seven minutes to go in the game the Mountaineers started its comeback. Eastern Oregon went on a 14-6 run to trim Whitman’s lead down to nine points, 70-61. However, the single digit lead did not last long as Tiffani Traver and Alysse Ketner hit back to back three pointers putting the Missionaries back on top, 76-61.
Eastern Oregon did not get any closer than nine points and fell by a score of 78-65.
The Mountaineers return to action on Friday Dec. 20 when Southern Oregon University travels to La Grande. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Quinn Coliseum.