CALDWELL, Idaho – The Eastern Oregon University women's basketball team was defeated by Westminster (Utah), the No. 4 team in the NAIA Women's Basketball Division I, 58-39. The Mountaineers struggled shooting the ball as they shot 26 percent for the contest.

Madeline Laan led the Mountaineers with nine points and 12 rebounds. Nikki Osborne followed with eight points.

In a first half that saw both teams struggling to shoot the ball, neither team shot above 30 percent for the half. After a layup by Lauren Mills, the Mountaineers found themselves tied, 6-6, with Westminster with 12 minutes to go in the first half.

The offenses of both teams remained cold until there was five and a half minutes to go before halftime. A three pointer by Osborne put EOU down three, 12-9, and got the offenses clicking. The Griffins' offense started to heat up from behind the arc and grew their lead to 10 points, 21-11, after hitting three straight three pointers.

The Mountaineers trimmed the lead down to seven, 21-14, after an old fashion three point play by Laan. The Griffins answered with a layup by Katie Richens, with two and a half left to go in the first half, to put Westminster ahead, 23-14. Both teams went scoreless for the last two and a half minutes and Westminster led by nine, 23-14, going into halftime.

Westminster extended their lead over the first five minutes of the second half, as they went on a 15-4 run. Alli Winters capped off the run with a three pointer putting the Griffins on top, 38-18.

The Mountaineers trimmed the lead down to 15 points, 41-26, after back-to-back three pointers by Kelsey Hill and Jordan Klebaum. Westminster answered right back and extended their lead to 25 points, 55-30, after a layup by Jamaica Christensen. Eastern Oregon had no answer and fell 58-39.

The Mountaineers return to action on Friday, Dec. 5 when they host The Evergreen State College. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.