LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University women's basketball team saw its four-game winning streak come to an end after suffering a 58-49 setback against Oregon Tech on Friday night at Quinn Coliseum.
The Mountaineers got to within five a couple of times with under two minutes remaining, but the Owls went 7-for-8 from the line down the stretch to seal the victory.
KEY PERFORMANCES
Junior guard Darian Gasseling netted a career-high 15 points on 6-for-14 shooting for EOU, while senior guard Jordan Klebaum added eight points and four rebounds. A pair of seniors in Maloree Moss and Madeline Laan tallied seven points apiece for the Mountaineers.
Four players posted double figures for Oregon Tech, as Ashlei Vandenbrink scored a game-high 17 points to lead the way.
THE STORYLINE
EOU struggled to find the bottom of the net early, as Oregon Tech (13-5, 7-2) raced to a 10-1 lead in the opening five minutes. The Navy and Gold finally hit its first basket at the 2:39 mark on a jumper by senior forward Nikki Osborne.
The Mountaineers (11-7, 7-2 CCC) opened the second quarter with a 8-0 burst to take a 13-12 advantage with 8:09 remaining thanks to back-to-back three's by Osborne and Gasseling. Senior guard Kelsey Hill drilled a three to deliver EOU its largest lead of the game (19-16), but Oregon Tech closed the half with an 11-5 run to snag a 27-24 halftime lead.
EOU managed to hang around in the third stanza, as Gasseling's jump shot cut the deficit to one (31-30) at the 5:34 mark. However, the Mountaineers were held to five points and two field goals for the next nine minutes, and the Owls stretched their advantage to 12 (47-35) with 3:53 remaining in regulation.
A step-back three by Moss and a strong drive to the bucket by Gasseling got EOU to within five (49-44) with under two minutes left, but it was too little, too late.
STATS OF THE GAME
15 – Gasseling netted a career-high 15 points for the Mountaineers.
11 – Oregon Tech used a 16-5 run in a stretch of nine minutes between the third and fourth quarters to build a lead.
UP NEXT
EOU returns to action tomorrow against No. 8 Southern Oregon in La Grande. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
