LA GRANDE, Ore. – A putback by junior guard Bailey Schroeder pulled the No. 14 Eastern Oregon University women's basketball within two with 18 seconds left, but a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit proved too much to overcome, as the Mountaineers dropped a 61-56 decision to Whitman on Wednesday night.

The Navy and Gold (1-3) led by as many as 12 in the second quarter until the shots stopped falling, and Whitman closed the half on 19-2 run.

Key Performances
Senior guard Jordan Klebaum tallied a team-high 10 points and snatched a game-high four steals, while junior guard Darian Gasseling drilled a trio of three's for the Mountaineers.

Three players scored in double figures for the Missionaries, with Hailey McDonald's 14 points and five assists leading the way.

The Storyline
EOU held Whitman scoreless until the 3:43 mark of the first quarter, and the Mountaineers utilized the drought to race to an early 13-2 lead after back-to-back three's by Gasseling and a layup by senior guard Larissa Quintana.

Klebaum opened the second stanza with a long bomb to grant EOU its largest lead of the contest (21-9), but the Navy and Gold coughed up six turnovers to fall behind at the half, 28-23.

Another Klebuam bucket tied the affair at 31 apiece with 6:44 remaining in the third quarter, but Whitman netted 10 unanswered and eventually stretched its lead to 16 (52-36) with 7:51 to go in the fourth frame. 

The Mountaineers slowly inched their way back as free throws by senior guard Kelsey Hill and Schroeder's layup brought the squad within two (58-56), but the Missionaries (1-0) drilled three free throws down the stretch to hold on. 

Stats of the Game
25 – Whitman points off 25 EOU turnovers.
13 – Steals by EOU.

Up Next
The Mountaineers will head south for their next two games, as the squad takes on Xavier (La.) in New Orleans on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.