MITCHELL, S.D. – The Eastern Oregon women's basketball season came to a close Friday night inside the Corn Palace, as the #7 seeded Mountaineers fell 82–67 to #10 seeded College of the Ozarks in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament, presented by Ballogy.
Eastern Oregon battled throughout the first three quarters and remained within reach late in the game, but a strong fourth-quarter push from the Bobcats ultimately put the contest out of reach.
The Bobcats set the tone early, building a 25–17 lead by the end of the first quarter. Eastern Oregon shot 7-of-17 from the field in the opening period but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just one of eight attempts. College of the Ozarks capitalized on early momentum to create separation while the Mountaineers searched for their offensive rhythm.
Eastern Oregon responded with its strongest stretch of the night in the second quarter. The Mountaineers shot an efficient 10-of-20 from the floor and controlled the glass, outrebounding the Bobcats 15–9 in the period. That work on the boards helped generate six second-chance points and steadily chip away at the deficit. A late layup from Brinley Hagemier with 14 seconds remaining trimmed the gap to just three points, sending Eastern Oregon into halftime trailing 42–39.
Coming out of the break, College of the Ozarks quickly rebuilt its lead with a 4–0 run to start the third quarter. The Mountaineers continued to battle offensively and matched the Bobcats from the field, but fouls proved costly. Ozarks converted all four of its free-throw opportunities during the quarter while a late surge extended its advantage. A last-second three-pointer from
Raquel Fehringer pushed the Bobcats' lead to 60–53 heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter ultimately decided the game. Eastern Oregon generated scoring opportunities but struggled to convert, shooting just 5-of-19 from the field and going scoreless from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Bobcats capitalized at the free-throw line, converting 6-of-7 attempts while controlling the defensive boards to limit second-chance opportunities. College of the Ozarks outscored the Mountaineers 22–14 in the final quarter to secure the 82–67 victory.
Eastern Oregon was led by
Haylee Johnson, who recorded 18 points on an efficient 9-of-12 shooting while adding nine rebounds in 32 minutes of play.
Kali Kast contributed 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Despite the loss, the Mountaineers found consistent success inside, finishing with a 44–32 advantage in points in the paint.
College of the Ozarks was powered by Zoe Hinze, who finished with a game-high 27 points to go along with 10 rebounds and two steals. Keara Mattingley added 17 points on 53.3 percent shooting while also recording a double-double with 10 rebounds and two steals.
The Bobcats also received strong production from their bench, holding a 36–31 advantage in bench scoring while adding 32 points in the paint and eight fastbreak points.
Eastern Oregon closes the 2025–26 season with a 25–6 overall record. The Mountaineers also set a program milestone this season, opening the year with a 15-game winning streak — the best start in program history.
