ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The Western Oregon women's basketball team won their second straight game on Friday, opening the CCAA/GNAC Challenge with a 60-52 win over the host Sonoma State Seawolves.
 
Western Oregon (2-1) got off to a fast start, out-scoring Sonoma State (2-1) 22-10 in the opening quarter. The Wolves shot 8-of-12 from the field in the first quarter, including going 3-of-4 from deep. Their defense also held the Seawolves to just three made field goals on 13 attempts to start the game.
 
Amber Winkler posted a career-high and team-high 12 points on Thursday. The sophomore shot 5-of-7 from the field, adding on four rebounds and two assists.
 
"We had a great shoot this morning and that energy carried over to the start of the game," said Western Oregon head coach Holli Howard-Carpenter. "Our focus, both on the court and the bench, was solid all game and everyone did their jobs to get this win."
 
After 22 points in the first quarter, the Wolves did not post more than 14 in any period the rest of the way, but were able to hold SSU to just 34 points heading to the fourth. The WOU lead, as a result, was able to expand out to as many as 19 points on multiple occasions.
 
The turnover battle played evenly with both teams giving up the ball 14 times. For WOU, it was the fewest turnovers they have surrendered through their first three games.
 
The Seawolves were only able to out-score Western in the fourth, marking their highest-scoring quarter of the night with 18 points. The late push allowed SSU to get within eight, but the big deficit would be too much to overcome late.
 
"The fourth quarter continues to be our Achilles heel and we need to get that figured out real quick," said Howard-Carpenter. "We have to value the ball and focus on getting a good shot each time down the floor."
 
The Wolves shot just 6-for-19 in the second half, including a 3-for-8 field goal shooting mark in the fourth.
 
Sonoma State shot 33.9 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three over the course of the game. They were led offensively by the game-high 15 points of Kylie Kiech. Ugochi Anudokem finished just shy of a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
WOU's Keyonna Jones and Cali McClave also finished in double figures in scoring. Jones came off the bench for 10 points in her 28 minutes of work, totaling three rebounds and one assist. McClave, the freshman out of Corvallis, surpassed 10 points for the first time in her young collegiate career, picking up 11 in her second start on a season-high 30 minutes of play.
 
"Amber made a huge impact for us today and really showed what she can do for us. I'm really proud of how Cali is playing as well with no fear. She brings a lot to this team."
 
Next up, the Wolves take on Chico State to close out the CCAA/GNAC Challenge in their first neutral site contest of the year. Tipoff on Saturday, Nov. 16, is set for noon PST at the Wolves' Den.