MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon women's basketball team could not hold off a fourth-quarter push from Southwest Minnesota State, falling 70-62 to the Mustangs on Saturday at NPE Gym.
The game opened with a 7-0 Southwest Minnesota State (5-1) run to shock Western Oregon's (2-4) defense. The Wolves quickly bounced back, however, going on a 7-2 run to pull within a possession.
After scoring just nine points in the first quarter and trailing by eight going to the second, Western followed with their highest-scoring period of the day, dropping 21 points in the second while holding the Mustangs to just 10 to take a three-point lead into the locker room.
"Obviously not the outcome we wanted, but there are a lot of positives we can take away from today," said Western Oregon head coach
Holli Howard-Carpenter. "Our number one focus was to take care of the ball and handle the press and I think our guards did a great job with that."
Cali McClave had a big second quarter. After going scoreless in the first, the freshman put up eight of her team-high 18 points in the period. She finished the game with three rebounds and an assist as well, shooting three-for-five from three and going 7-for-7 at the free throw line.
The Wolves extended their lead coming out of the locker room, going on a 13-6 run over the first six minutes of the third quarter to stretch their lead to 43-33, their largest of the night. From there on out, however, it was a battle to hold off the Mustangs' offense.
Meleah Reinhart led the way for SMSU with a game-high 24 points, six rebounds and two assists. She was one of three Mustangs to finish in double figures along with Caleigh Rodning and Jenna Borchers. Rodning scored all of her 15 points in the second half.
Southwest Minnesota State out-scored Western Oregon 23-12 in the fourth quarter to overcome what was a 10-point Western lead. The Wolves led for the majority of the game, holding an advantage for nearly 22 minutes including the entirety of the third quarter.
"We didn't get off to a great start defensively, but buckled down and had a sense of urgency to stay in front without fouling," added Howard-Carpenter. "We put together a nice scoring run in the second and were able to stay consistent throughout the third. Our fourth quarter scoring drought hurt us again tonight. We have to make the makeable shots and find other ways to answer on the offensive end in order to get or protect a lead and right now we just aren't getting that done."
Shariah Green added 13 points in the start for WOU. The forward was 5-for-9, including a 3-pointer, and tacked on four rebounds, two steals and a block.
Next up, the Wolves will open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Thursday, Dec. 5, when they visit the Alaska Nanooks. Tipoff in Fairbanks is set for 6:15 p.m. PST.
