CALDWELL, Idaho - The Mountaineers went head-to-head with the University of Montana Western Bulldogs on Friday afternoon at the Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Classic held in Caldwell, Idaho. EOU took the Frontier Conference member to overtime but couldn't hang on down the stretch taking their first official loss of the year, 76-68. Eastern now sits at 2-1 on the season while Montana Western moves to 4-1.
 
While the score was evened up at 63 at the end of regulation, the Bulldogs consistent attack and advantage rebounding proved to be too much. Montana Western crashed the boards hard all day outrebounding Eastern by 15 on their way to a total of 50. The difference maker was on the offensive side of the ball where the Bulldogs picked up 22 offensive rebounds resulting in 19 second chance points.
 
Beverly Slater, last week's CCC Player of the Week, had another big game putting up 16 points and eight rebounds while dishing out five assists. Slater's big game wasn't enough though as Montana Western's dynamic attack lead by Jordan Sweeney and Brynley Fitzgerald, who scored 26 and 20 points respectively, carried the Bulldogs to the win.
 
The Mounties return to action tomorrow afternoon to wrap up play at the Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Classic. Eastern will take on Willamette at 1 p.m. MT.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

• EOU
  • Beverly Slater: 16 PTS, 8-14 FG, 8 REB, 5 AST
  • Shaelie Burgess: 9 PTS, 4-9 FG, 5 REB, 7 BLK
• UMW
  • Jordan Sweeney: 26 PTS, 9-17 FG, 5-9 3PT, 5 REB, 3 AST
  • Brynley Fitzgerald: 20 PTS, 5-15 FG, 3-7 3PT, 10 REB, 2 AST