Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Eastern Oregon University women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season on Friday night in the Spokane Classic. The Mountaineers were defeated by Montana State – Northern, 58-55.

Brittney Newcomb led the way for the Mountaineers, as she scored 20 points in the game on 7-of-15 shooting. She went 5-for-13 from behind the arc.

MSU-Northern looked to be taking control of the game early as they raced out to a, 9-1, lead over EOU. However, EOU continued to battle and both teams' offenses went cold for two minutes as neither team made a shot.

When the shots started to fall, the Lights built on its lead and grew it to as many as 10 points, 19-9, with 8:30 to go in the first half. The Mountaineers continued to battle back and trimmed the lead to six points, 26-20, going into halftime.

The Lights grew their lead to as many as 11 early in the second half before EOU started making its comeback. The Mountaineers trimmed the lead to five points, 32-27, with 16:14 to go in the game.

Eastern Oregon continued to battle and kept the game within five points for the reminder of the contest. EOU trimmed the lead to three points, 37-34, after a Nyesha Joseph jumper. The Mountaineers continued to come back and trimmed the lead to two points, 45-43, after a Madeleine Laan jumper.

Montana State –Northern continued to battle and hold onto the lead. With EOU down seven, 58-51, and thirty seconds to go in the game, the Mountaineers made one last effort to come back. Newcomb hit a three pointer and was fouled and she converted her four point play to trim the lead to three points, 58-55.

After a missed free throw by the Lights, EOU had one last chance and Newcomb fired a three pointer that did not go in and EOU fell, 58-55 to Montana State – Northern.

Eastern Oregon returns to action Saturday Nov. 2 when they conclude the Spokane Classic by facing the University of Great Falls at 5 p.m.