Women's Basketball | 1/5/2013 3:23:00 PM

Box Score

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Lorrie Clifford led the Western Oregon women's basketball team with 18 points while Chantel Divilbiss poured in 17 as the Wolves defeated Montana State Billings, 73-65, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest on Saturday afternoon. With the victory, WOU improved to 6-8 on the season and 1-3 in league play while MSUB fell to 9-3 overall, 3-1 in the GNAC with the loss.

A strong defensive effort helped lead the Wolves to the eight-point win as WOU held the Yellowjackets to just 33.8 percent (22-of-65) from the field. The Wolves forced 15 turnovers on the day as WOU held a 12-5 advantage in points off of turnovers.

WOU was just as efficient on the offensive end as the Wolves shot an impressive 52.9 percent (27-of-51) from the field. The Wolves shot exceptionally well from behind the three-point line as WOU finished 10-of-17 (58.8 percent) from behind the arc.

Clifford led the way for the Wolves as she connected on 6-of-7 three-point attempts to finish with 18 points. Mariah Durian came off the bench and shot 3-of-5 from three-point range to finish with 13 points for WOU. Divilbiss finished with 17 on 6-of-9 from the field while leading WOU with three assists.

After the two teams traded leads to open the game, WOU grabbed control with a 23-6 run midway through the first half to grab a 29-14 lead with 7:49 remaining. The Wolves would go on to hold a 34-27 edge at the break as the Yellowjackets hit only 10-of-30 shots over the first 20 minutes.

WOU would stretch the lead out again in the second half, building a 53-40 lead with 11:36 remaining. MSUB would not get closer than five the rest of the way as the Wolves would snap a five-game losing streak to the Yellowjackets.

Bobbi Knudsen led MSUB in the loss and finished with 21 points while Kayleen Goggins had 16 points for the Yellowjackets.

WOU will look to make it two wins in a row win the Wolves return to action on Thursday, Jan. 10, when they travel to Nampa, Idaho, to face Northwest Nazarene at 6:00 p.m.