MONMOUTH --- The Western Oregon women's basketball team got a game-tying steal and basket by Natalie Brown with 23.9 seconds remaining before Willamette drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Wolves 89-86 Thursday at New PE Building.

WOU (2-2), which never trailed in the first half, led by 11 points early in the third quarter before the Bearcats answered with a 10-0 run to get within one ended the quarter on a 9-0 run in the final minute to take a 66-59 lead into the fourth.

The Wolves trailed the entirety of the fourth quarter before Brown stepped into a passing lane and scored with 23.9 left to tie the game. Willamette air balled a go-ahead jumper, but a Bearcat saved the ball and it found its way to a Willamette player beyond the arc who got it off before the buzzer and sank it for the win. It was just Willamette's fourth offensive rebound of the game.

Bella Pedrojetti led five Wolves in double figures with 16 points. Enid Vaifanua nearly had a triple-double with 15 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, Brown finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals, Mya India Thomas had 12 points while MilaSarai Tau had 12 points.

WOU heads to Hawaii next week as it takes part in the Big Island Holiday Classic where it will open against host Hawaii Hilo 10 p.m. (PT) Wednesday.