Women's Basketball | 2/14/2009 7:30:34 PM

[Box score]

MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Western Oregon women's basketball team fell 77-63 to Montana State Billings in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game, Saturday, Feb. 14.

The loss was the fourth straight for the Wolves as they dropped to 3-8 in the GNAC and to 8-14 on the season. The win broke the team's sixth place tie in the conference as the Yellowjackets went to 4-7 and 12-10 on the year.

Alira Carpenter and Jetton Meaders each scored 18 points to lead Montana State Billings. Whitney Chase had 15 points to pace Western Oregon. Other Western Oregon players in double-figures included Shayla Corder (14), Katie Torland (11) and Erica Wilson (11). Torland also had a team-high nine rebounds and four assists for the Wolves.

Montana State Billings dominated the offensive glass as it pulled down 16 offensive boards and outscored WOU 14-5 on second chance points. MSUB also made nine of 17 from behind the arc and 24 of 31 at the free throw line. Western Oregon went 16 of 19 at the line.

The Yellowjackets led 34-23, as it made 13 field goals to the Wolves six. WOU was able to be down by only with 11 because it went 10 of 12 from the charity stripe in the half. Montana State Billings lead throughout the second half, but a Sara Zahler three-pointer with 3:45 cut the lead to seven at 65-58. The Yellowjackets then responded with straight two Jen Smith three-pointers to go on top 71-58 and seal the win.

The Western Oregon women's basketball team will have just one game next week as it travels to Bellingham, Wash., to face Western Washington Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2:00 p.m.