GOLDEN, Colo. – The Western Oregon women's basketball team was unable to come back after early shooting woes as it dropped a 62-47 decision to Colorado School of Mines on Saturday afternoon at Lockridge Arena.
 
"We took care of the ball and got just about every shot we wanted but they just didn't fall tonight," head coach Holli Howard-Carpenter said.
 
Junior guard Jordan Mottershaw had nine points for the Wolves (1-5) and freshman center Natalie DeLonge posted season-highs with eight points and a game-best 11 rebounds.
 
"Natalie played a great game tonight, she demanded the ball on the block and she was a beast on the boards," Howard-Carpenter added.
 
Colorado Mines (2-2) got off to a quick start with a 5-0 opening run that extended out to a seven-point cushion in the first quarter. The Wolves responded with a 7-2 run to cut the lead at the first break to 15-12. Launia Davis provided the rally's catalyst with a 3-point basket. DeLonge nailed a jumper and Sydney Azorr connected from the foul line.
 
The Orediggers took their largest lead of the half, 11 points, with 3:02 left in the second quarter. A charity shot from Jazmin Bembry and layup from Mottershaw trimmed the lead, but the home team was able to maintain a 29-18 halftime advantage.
 
The CSM lead ballooned to 20 in the third quarter and the Orediggers led by as much as 22 points (58-36) midway through the fourth quarter.
 
WOU found a late spark on offense with a 12-2 run over the final three minutes. Most of the damage came within the paint on makes from Jasmine Miller, DeLonge and Mottershaw. But the rally came too late as CSM held on for the 15-point victory.
 
"Clearly not the outcome we wanted but I saw a different team tonight," Howard-Carpenter said. "They executed well and they fought for each other."
 
Laura Tyree lead Colorado Mines with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while Mikaela Moore contributed 11 points off the bench,
 
Western Oregon opens Great Northwest Athletic Conference play at Seattle Pacific on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.
 
The head coach is optimistic heading into conference play: "Although not as quickly as I would like, we're starting to figure out our individual roles and our team identity.  It's imperative that we have a productive week of practice leading into GNAC play and I have confidence that we will get it done."