By: Jamal Smith Sports Editor
The Western Oregon women’s basketball team fell at home to Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) 63-51 on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Freshman Natalie DeLonge (C) led the Wolves in scoring with 10 points, shooting 4-of-8 from the floor in just 19 minutes of play. Junior Jordan Mottershaw (G) and Michelle Bromagem (G) each tallied 8 points.
After NNU scored the first four points of the game, the Wolves pounced on the Crusaders by hitting two consecutive 3-pointers, one from Mottershaw and the other from Bromagem.
Building off the momentum from the deep ball, the Wolves held the lead throughout most of the first quarter by taking high percentage shots in the paint, but costly fouls and turnovers caused the score to be even at 14-14 by the end of the quarter.
In the remainder of the half, the Crusaders started hitting shots and creating turnovers, which proved to be one of the Wolves biggest problems of the night. By the half time whistle, Western had only added eight points and NNU’s lead ballooned to 36-22.
Although the Wolves found their shooting touch again in the second half, NNU kept hitting their shots. Every time the Wolves came close to bringing the score within single digits, the Crusaders would answer by creating turnovers or going on scoring runs.
With just under two minutes remaining in the game, Western brought the score to 51-60 off two made free throws from senior Emily Howey (C), but ultimately were unable to stop NNU in crunch time.
Western shot 15 of 50 from the floor including 5 of 15 from beyond the 3-point arch. The Wolves committed 24 turnovers that led to 28 Crusader points, and only created four points on NNU’s 15 turnovers. NNU also won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding WOU 38-34.
The Wolves hit 20 of 23 from the charity stripe and set a season-high free throw percentage of 0.870 percent, up from their season average of 0.679 percent.
The loss brings Western’s overall record to 3-15 and 2-8 in GNAC play.
Up next, the Wolves travel to British Columbia, Canada to take on Simon Frasier University on Saturday, Jan. 31.
The next home game is on Thursday, Feb. 4 against the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Tip-off is at 7 p.m., and the game is a pink-out, meaning fans are asked to wear pink in support of their team. Two days later, on Saturday, Feb. 6, the Wolves host the University of Alaska Anchorage also at 7 p.m. in the New P.E. Building.
