SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Eastern Oregon University Women's Basketball season came to an end on Wednesday night in the First Round of the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship presented by State Farm, as Oklahoma Wesleyan University defeated EOU, 60-57, at the Tyson Event Center.
 
The Mountaineers (26-7) struggled shooting the ball in the contest, only shooting 31 percent from the floor in the game, as they dropped their second straight contest. Airashay Rogers led the way for the Mountaineers with 15 points. Madeline Laan rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points.  Kassy Larson collected a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Nichole Tate led the Eagles (27-6) with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Patience Gitau and Susan Agesen rounded out the double figure scorers with 11 and 10 points, respectively. With the win, Oklahoma Wesleyan advances to face Morningside on Friday night.
 
Oklahoma Wesleyan came out and scored the first basket of the contest, but the Mountaineers answered by scoring the next 10 points and holding a 10-2 lead over the first 3 minutes and 30 seconds of the contest.
 
Eastern Oregon continued to lead in the first half and held a lead of five points, 17-12, after a Rogers' jumper. Oklahoma Wesleyan continued to battle and trimmed EOU's lead down to one point, 19-18, with 10:39 left in the half, after a Tate 3-pointer.
 
After their lead was cut down to one, EOU responded and grew their lead back to nine points, 29-20, after a jumper in the paint by Nikki Osborne. However, after Osborne's field goal, the Mountaineers went the last 4:03 of the first half scoreless and the Eagles scored the last eight points of the half. EOU held a one point lead, 29-28, at halftime.
 
It looked as if the Mountaineers' cold shooting was gone to start the second half. Rogers quickly grew the Mountaineers' lead after hitting a 3-pointer to start the second half. However, Rogers' 3-point field goal was the last field goal for EOU until there was 13:56 left in the half.
 
During that time, the Eagles' offense started to warm up, as Oklahoma Wesleyan went on a 9-0 run taking a 39-32 lead over the Mountaineers. A basket by Rogers broke the scoreless streak and put EOU down five, 39-34.
 
Eastern Oregon continued to battle back and a free throw by Rogers put EOU down three, 45-42. Oklahoma Wesleyan answered and grew their lead back to seven points, 51-44. 
 
EOU again made a move to close the game and after a pair of free throws by Osborne, EOU trailed by three, 52-49. Again the Eagles answered by extending their lead back to seven points. With EOU down 57-50, the Mountaineers scored the next four points bring the game back to a three point game, 57-54.
 
The Mountaineers could not get any closer than three and Oklahoma Wesleyan grew the lead back six points, 60-54, with 35 seconds remaining in the game. Rogers hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer but it was not enough as EOU fell, 60-57, to Oklahoma Wesleyan.