HAYWARD, Calif (Nov. 13) – Junior guard Jordan Mottershaw led Western Oregon in scoring with 15 points, but the Wolves shot just 31.7 percent from the field in a 57-42 loss to California State University East Bay on Friday on day one of the CSUEB Conference Challenge at Pioneer Gym.
 
The Wolves fall to 0-1 on the season while the host Pioneers open the regular season with a victory to move to 1-0.
 
"We came out pretty flat in the first half and really had trouble scoring," WOU head coach Holli Howard-Carpenter said. "East bay is an experienced and scrappy team. We knew we would have to bring our A-game, but (we) just weren't consistent on the offensive end of the floor."
 
On opening day, WOU made just 13 of 41 field-goal attempts, including 3 of 13 from three-point range, in the 15-point defeat. Western Oregon shot better in the second half – 12 of 34 (35.2 percent) compared to 6 of 25 (24 percent) over the first two quarters. They did have good control of the basketball with 13 offensive rebounds and a 36 to 24 overall advantage on the boards, but 21 turnovers led to 22 Pioneer points.
 
The Wolves, who trailed 26-14 at halftime, closed within six points on two occasions in the fourth quarter before free throws extended the East Bay advantage.
 
Mottershaw, who played 23 minutes in her first game since earning All-GNAC preseason honors, finished with 15 points, six coming from the free-throw line, and two rebounds. Junior forward Kelsey Henry and junior guard Launia Davis both chipped in eight points off the bench for WOU. Henry made her first two shots, including a 3-pointer. Davis came in late in the first half and added a triple in her 3 for 8 shooting night.
 
"Jordan had a great second half and Launia gave us a boost off the bench," Howard-Carpenter said.
 
Sophomore Jasmine Miller and freshman Kaylie Boschma led the Wolves with six rebounds each. Henry followed the dual board leaders with four grabs.
 
Two forwards, Tori Breshers (19) and Remy Puou (11), combined for 30 East Bay points.
 
Western Oregon faces Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday at 2 p.m. in second-day action at the Conference Challenge in Pioneer Gym.