SPOKANE, Wash. — Eastern Oregon University (RV) Women's Basketball put together a determined fourth-quarter comeback Sunday, but Montana State University-Northern made enough plays down the stretch to secure a 75-69 victory on day two of the Northwest Crossover Classic.
The Mountaineers showed early fight, staying within two points for most of the early stretch of the opening quarter. The Lights began to pull away in the quarter's final five minutes, but free throws from
Ellie Markus, rebounds and layups from
Aarey Harris and
Hadley Fraas kept the Mountaineers back within two to head into the second quarter trailing 20-18.
Eastern Oregon continued to battle in the second quarter, with Harris converting two free throws before Laible finished a layup off an assist from
Avery Peterson to keep the Mountaineers within five.
Haylee Johnson then delivered a key second-chance basket, securing an offensive rebound and finishing inside to pull EOU within three at 27-24. Later, after Kast collected an offensive rebound off a missed three-pointer, Fraas converted a layup to make it 29-26. Kast added a late basket and free throw, and Johnson scored inside with six seconds remaining to head into halftime trailing just 36-32 despite shooting 29.4% in the second quarter.
MSU-Northern responded to open the second half, but Eastern Oregon repeatedly found ways to stay within striking distance. Kast scored on a layup off Peterson's assist to make it 38-34, and Niemeyer converted two free throws before Peterson finished inside, trimming the deficit to four at 42-38. Laible continued to provide a spark around the basket, scoring on consecutive possessions midway through the quarter. Her second layup, brought EOU within six at 50-44. After MSU-Northern extended its lead to double digits, Alvarado and Niemeyer knocked down free throws to make it 55-47 entering the final quarter.
The Mountaineers saved their strongest push for the final period. Niemeyer opened the quarter with a three-pointer, cutting the deficit to five. Fraas followed with two free throws, and Eastern Oregon continued to apply pressure defensively. After MSU-Northern committed another turnover, Fraas finished a layup off an assist from Laible, bringing EOU within one point as the Mountaineers continued to push, but MSU-Northern answered each push to preserve the 75-69 win.
Laible led Eastern Oregon with 13 points on 6-of-14 shooting and added eight rebounds. Kast finished with 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds, while Fraas contributed 10 points and four assists without a turnover. Harris also scored 10 points, including the late three-pointer that kept EOU within reach. Niemeyer added eight points, and Peterson recorded five points, three assists and three steals.
MSU-Northern was led by Jaynee Tanner, who scored 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Ciera Agasiva added 16 points and Kunze chipped in 14 points and five assists. The Lights shot 46.2% from the field and converted 23 of 28 free throws, including 12 of 13 in the fourth quarter. Eastern Oregon shot 38.1% from the field and made five three-pointers, while holding a 38-28 advantage in points in the paint.
The Mountaineers will return to action next weekend, heading to the Caldwell Classic to face No.16 Montana Tech Friday and Montana Western Saturday.
