NAMPA, Idaho – NCAA Division II opponent Northwest Nazarene raced to a 17-2 lead to start the game, and the No. 14 Eastern Oregon University women's basketball team never recovered, ultimately falling to the Crusaders, 75-43, on Saturday afternoon in an exhibition affair. 

Key Performances
Senior guard Jordan Klebaum registered a team-high nine points on 4-for-10 shooting, while junior forward Ashley Knight netted eight points and pulled down seven rebounds.

Meanwhile, sophomore guard Payton Parrish and senior guard Larissa Quintana added eight points apiece.

The Storyline
The Mountaineers were held to just one field goal in the first quarter and got as close as 16 (29-13) with 5:39 remaining in the second stanza following a jumper by Quintana. However, Northwest Nazarene responded with a 9-2 run to end the second frame to take a 38-15 advantage into the locker room.  

After the Crusaders stretched their lead to 32 (51-19) in the third quarter, the Mountaineers assembled a 7-0 burst thanks to free throws by Osborne and back-to-back jumpers by junior guard Darian Gasseling and Parrish. But EOU never got any closer, and Northwest Nazarene pulled away for a 75-43 win.

Stat of the Game
36 – Points scored by Northwest Nazarene off 36 EOU turnovers.

Up Next
The Mountaineers open the 2015-16 campaign on Nov. 6 against Arizona Christian in Phoenix, Ariz., at 7 p.m. MT.