LA GRANDE, Ore. - Mountaineer Women's Basketball dropped its lone exhibition of the season Friday night inside Quinn Coliseum against NCAA Division III foe Whitman College. Eastern fell by a final score of 75-68 in what was the team's home opener of the 2021-22 season.
How it Happened
• Helping Blues (1-0) secure the win was an 18-7 start in the first quarter along with the help of 51.6% shooting from the floor.
• Offensively, Eastern shot just 32.2% from the floor and was 7-24 (29.2%) from three point range. EOU did go 80% from the free throw line on 20-25 made shots.
• Also helping the Blues in the win was a2-07 edge in second chance points and 48-22 advantage in points in the paint.
• In the opening quarter, the Blues raced out to a commanding 14-0 lead and never looked back the rest of the night. They held the Mountaineers without a bucket until the 3:34 mark.
• Ending the drought for EOU was a jumper by
Adyson Harris, but the team managed just five more points in the quarter and went into the second trailing by 11.
• The Mountaineer managed to get in double figures in the second quarter scoring 14 points, but the Blues nearly doubled their efforts with 22 and led by as much as 24.
• Eastern got within 11 a pair of times early on the quarter but was unable to slow up the Blues offensive rhythm.
• A jumper by Whitman with 1:46 to play in the half gave them their largest lead of the night at 40-16. A pair of free throws by
Sailor Liefke made it a 40-21 game going into the break.
• The second half, EOU managed to outscore the Blues 44-38, but it was not enough for the comeback effort.
• Late in the third, Eastern managed to get within 12, 45-33 on a layup from Liefke. Back-to-back made shots from the Blues pushed their lead back to 16, 49-33 before they went into the fourth with a 51-35 lead.
• The fourth quarter was the highest scoring one for EOU who tallied 30 points. Whitman also had its most productive frame scoring 27.
• The two squads traded shots the whole time but EOU never got any closer than 13 points which did not come until the end when Harris nailed a three-pointer to bring the game to its final of 78-65.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
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Adyson Harris led the way in scoring with 18 points off the bench. She shot 6-15 from the floor and grabbed a team best six rebounds.
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Sailor Liefke added 15 points with the help of 8-10 made free throws and was able to grab four rebounds.
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Taylor Stricklin chipped in nine points, had three steals, and grabbed five rebounds in the game.
For the Blues
• Kaylie McCracken led all players with a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. She shot 9-10 from the floor and was a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line.
• Korin Baker had 16 points on 8-13 shooting to go along with two blocks and six boards.
• Kaelan Shamseldin added 12 points in the win on 50% shooting (5-10) to go along with a game best six assists.
By the Numbers
32.2 - The Mountaineers 32.2% shooting on Friday is their lowest in a game this season.
20 - Eastern has taken 20-plus free throws in each of their last three games.
1 - This game is the only exhibition contest of the season for the Mountaineers.
Up Next
• The Mountaineers will head to Lewiston, Idaho next weekend for the Twin Rivers Physical Therapy Class hosted by Lewis-Clark State College Nov. 12-13.
• Eastern will take on two Frontier Conference schools in Rocky Mountain College on Nov. 12 followed by Montana Tech on Nov. 13. Tip-off for both games is set for 1 p.m. PT.
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