OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Eastern Oregon University women's basketball team withstood a late rally from Evergreen, and the Mountaineers led by as many as 24 points en route to taking down the Geoducks, 63-50, on Friday night in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play.

EOU enjoyed a 21-point advantage in the fourth quarter until Evergreen made it a nine-point affair, but the Mountaineers ultimately prevailed on the road.

KEY PERFORMANCES
Three players tallied double figures for EOU, as senior forward Madeline Laan led the way with 15 points and seven boards on 5-for-7 shooting. Senior guard Maloree Moss added 13 points and a trio of three's, while senior forward Nikki Osborne registered 10 points in a team-high 30 minutes.

Only seven players saw time on the court for Evergreen. Uriah Thomas notched a double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds) in the losing effort.

THE STORYLINE
After EOU (15-8, 11-3 CCC) took a 15-14 advantage into the second stanza, the Mountaineers closed the first half with a 19-2 run to break the game open. Senior guard Jordan Klebaum netted a three to put EOU on top, 22-16, and then Laan drilled her first three-pointer of the season to keep the run going.

The Mountaineers nailed three-straight buckets to extend their lead to 17 (33-16) after junior guard Darian Gasseling knocked down a perimeter jumper at the 1:31 mark, and the Navy and Gold ultimately took a 34-16 advantage into the locker room.

EOU made five of its first six shots of the third quarter to go up, 44-22, after junior guard Donniesha Webber scored on a drive to the hoop, and the two CCC foes traded baskets until the Mountaineers carried a 20-point (54-34) lead into the final frame.

Things got a little dicey in the fourth quarter, as Evergreen (3-16, 3-11 CCC) racked up seven-points in a 62-second span to cut EOU's lead to 10 (57-47) with 2:53 left to play. However, a couple of plays later, the Mountaineers pulled down two offensive rebounds to milk nearly one minute off the clock, and the Geoducks were held without a field goal for the final 2:53 of the game.

STATS OF THE GAME
8 – EOU saw five different players drill jumpers from beyond the arc, as the team hit eight or more three's for the 11th time this season. Evergreen was held to just one on the evening.
2 – The Mountaineers allowed only two points in the second quarter en route to building a 34-16 halftime advantage.

UP NEXT
EOU concludes its two-game road swing tomorrow night against Northwest. Tipoff in Kirkland, Wash., is set for 5:30 p.m.