MONMOUTH, Ore.--Western Oregon went on a 7-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away from Willamette for a 68-64 women's basketball win on Monday night at the Western Athletic Center.
WOU freshman
Zada White had 21 points and
Jaylo Bello added 20 to pace the Wolves.
It was a back-and-forth game throughout. The Bearcats led at the end of a fast paced first quarter, 24-18, but the Wolves came back with 20 second quarter points of their own to lead at the break, 38-33.
Willamette regained the margin with a 18-10 third period stretch, and still led early in the fourth quarter 53-50. With four minutes left, the Bearcats led 59-57 but WOU turned the momentum back their way with a 7-0 run to take a 66-57 lead. Bello had a three-point play and hit a pair of free throws during that run to give the home team a lead that they would keep.
Willamette would take one last run at the Wolves, cutting the margin to 66-64 in the final minute, but
Miquedah Taliman iced the contest with two free throws with two seconds left for the 68-64 final.
White, a first-year player from Snoqualmie, Wash, had five rebounds and four assists to go with her 21 points. Bello, a junior transfer guard from Walla Walla College had the 20 points, seven rebounds and four steals.
Western Oregon will stay at home this weekend to host the GNAC-CCAA Challenge. WOU will play Fresno Pacific on Friday and UC Merced on Saturday. Both games will start at 2 pm.
