MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon Wolves kept their streak of hot play alive on Wednesday, cruising to a 79-60 win over Notre Dame de Namur at NPE Gym.
Notre Dame de Namur (2-6) had the advantage after the first quarter, relying on hot shooting early from Lindsay Bates and Jordan Rodriguez. Both players hung around the arc, combining for 18 points from 3-point range. The Argos took a 19-17 lead into the second quarter before the Wolves put the clamp down.
Western Oregon (4-4) broke things open to take all of the momentum into the locker room with an all-around second quarter. The Wolves outscored the Argos 21-7 in the period, shooting 57.1 percent from the field while holding NDNU to 22.2 percent shooting.
"Our start wasn't the best but I thought we dug in and executed in the second and third quarters," said Western Oregon head coach
Holli Howard-Carpenter. "Defending and rebounding is where we want to hang our hat and we did a great job on the glass tonight."
Western Oregon out-rebounded NDNU 48-20, including a 22-4 advantage in offensive boards.
Ali Nelke finished the first half with a game-high 12 points and six rebounds, shooting 6-of-8 from the floor. Nelke posted a career-high 22 points in the game, coming just one rebound shy of a double-double with nine rebounds and five assists.
WOU didn't slow up their pressure in the third, extending their lead by eight points on another period of 50 percent shooting. The Wolves shot 50 percent or better from the field in each of the final three quarters Wednesday, finishing 31-of-66 from the field as a team.
Natalie DeLonge posted 16 points in a strong second half, totaling 18 in the game along with 10 rebounds for her first career double-double.
"Ali and Nat were absolutely key tonight," added Howard-Carpenter. "They took advantage on the inside and really carried us. Our guards did a really good job of finding them and we shared the ball well."
Keyonna Jones also set a career-high in the game, doling out eight assists to go along with seven points and four rebounds in 28 minutes.
Trailing by as many as 23 in the fourth quarter, the Argonauts made a late push to pull within 15, but had too big of a gap to overcome to make a significant run. Anaya Rodisha led NDNU with 17 points, nine of which came at the free throw line, adding on five rebounds as well.
The 79 points for the Wolves matches their highest scoring total of the season, setting the mark in consecutive games.
"I'm really happy for our group to be able to go into break on a win. We need to recharge our batteries over break and come back focused and hungry. We open with two of the stronger teams in the GNAC and we have to bring it from the tip and embrace the grind."
Western Oregon has now won four of their last five games. They will resume play on Jan. 3 when they face conference opponent Central Washington at home. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at NPE Gym.
