PORTLAND, Ore. – The Western Oregon women's basketball team was able to hold Concordia University's scoring to 11 or fewer points in three quarters of play on Tuesday night, but fell 54-43 to the Cavaliers at LCEF Court in their first meeting of the year.
 
Western Oregon (4-8, 1-4 GNAC) opened the game with one of just two quarters they would shoot over 30 percent from the field, going 5-for-16 in the first and 2-for-3 from 3-point range. It was, however, the jolting offensive start for Concordia (3-10, 2-3 GNAC) that would prove the difference on Tuesday night. Concordia shot just 34 percent for the game, but an efficient 50 percent on 9-for-18 in the opening period to take a quick 24-12 lead.
 
No more than two points would separate the teams in the following three quarters of scoring and CU managed just 30 points the rest of the game after their 24 points in the first 10 minutes of play. The Cavs were led by the 10 points and eight rebounds of Riley Friauf while Dorcas Wu added on another 10 points and five boards.
 
Keyonna Jones reached double figures in scoring for the first time since Dec. 16 for WOU, finishing with a team-high 11 points, three rebounds and two assists. She was one of two Wolves to score at least 10, along with the 10 points of Shariah Green on 4-for-9 shooting. Green added six rebounds and an assist.
 
After going 2-for-3 from 3-point range in the first quarter, Western did not hit another shot from deep in the game, going 0-for-14 beyond the arc in the final three quarters. It was the lowest 3-point shooting percentage (11.8) in a game this season for the Wolves and their lowest since Jan. 31, 2019.
 
The Wolves found themselves as close as four points off the lead at the end of the third quarter and within six with under six minutes left to play in the game, but could never completely close the gap.
 
Next up, the Wolves return home to host the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets on Saturday, Jan. 11. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. PST at NPE Gym.