SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Eastern Oregon University women’s basketball season came to an end Wednesday morning in the first round of the NAIA Division II National Championship, presented by State Farm. The Mountaineers fell to Southwestern, 67-65.
The Mountaineers had four people score in double figures led by Brittney Newcomb’s 14 points. Nyesha Joseph, Nicole Redd and Kassy Larson all followed with 12 points apiece. Jana Reichenberger led the Moundbuilders with 15 points.
The Mountaineers found themselves down early in the contest as the Moundbuilders raced out to an early 7-2 in the first four minutes of the game. EOUs offense continued to struggle early in the game against Southwestern as the Mountaineers trailed 12-6 after the first seven minutes of the game.
Trailing by six pints, Eastern Oregon’s offense started to wake up and the Moundbuilders six point lead was trimmed to one point, 17-16, after a three pointer by Payton Parrish and a jumper by Kassy Larson. After the Mountaineers trimmed the lead down to one, Southwestern grew its lead back to five points, 21-16, with 7:37 left in the first half.
Less than a minute later, EOU went on an 8-2 run to take its first lead of the game after a Newcomb three pointer that put Eastern Oregon ahead by one point, 24-23. However, the three pointer was the Mountaineers’ last field goal for a six minute stretch. During the cold spell, the Moundbuilders grew its lead back to seven points. Redd trimmed the lead down to five points, 31-26, to go into halftime.
Eastern Oregon continued to battle to start the second half. EOU trimmed Southwestern’s lead to two points, 33-31, after a three pointer by Newcomb to start the half. However, each time the Mountaineers cut the lead down to two points, Southwestern answered back to build its lead back to seven points.
EOU continued to battle back in the contest and Redd put EOU down three points, 47-44, with 12:36 left in the game. However, after the Mountaineers got back within three points, the Moundbuilders went on a 10-2 run and with 9:15 left in the game, EOU found itself down 11 points, 57-46.
The Mountaineers answered the Southwestern’s run with an 11-3 run of its own to trim the lead down to three points, 60-57, with 6:24 left in the game after a pair of free throws by Kelsey Hill. For the rest of the game the Moundbuilders did not have a lead greater than six points.
With 3:41 left in the game, EOU trailed by five points, 65-60, but the Mountaineers cut the lead down to two points, 65-63, after a free throw by Hill. On its next possession, EOU had an opportunity to take the lead but Newcomb missed a three pointer.
Southwestern extended its lead to three points, 66-63, after a Jordan Hobbs free throw. Fifteen seconds later EOU cut the lead down to one points, 66-65, after Larson hit a jumper. Southwestern had a chance to extend its lead on its next time down the court but the Moundbuilders did not capitalize. EOU brought the ball up the court with under a minute to go in the game but the Mountaineers came up empty again.
With under 30 seconds left in the game, EOU still trailed by one point, 66-65, and Southwestern had possession of ball. Southwestern ran the shot clock down and Jana Reichenberger put up a shot that she missed with Redd collecting the defensive rebound.
Eastern Oregon had a chance to take the lead with under 15 seconds to go in the game. Redd found Larson in the post and Larson turned around for the jumper in the lane. Larson was fouled on the shot and went to the line for a pair of free throws. However, Larson’s trip to the line came up empty and EOU fouled Bryan Zefiryn. Zefiryn made one of two free throws to put Southwestern ahead by two points, 67-65. EOU set up a chance for a half court shot but the Mountaineers could not get a shot off and fell to Southwestern, 67-65. EOU concludes its season with an 23-10 overall record.