By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

The Western Oregon women’s basketball team nearly gave Western Washington University (WWU) their first GNAC conference loss, but inevitably fell short 59-61 on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016.

For the second consecutive game, senior Emily Howey (C) led the Wolves in scoring and finished with 12 points on 5-7 shooting from the floor. Sophomore Sydney Azorr (G) was the only other Western player to reach double figures in scoring with 10 points.

Fresh from Thursday’s 58-57 victory over Simon Fraser University, the Wolves started off the game in dominating fashion. In the first quarter, the Wolves shot a blistering .571 from the floor to take a 12 point advantage into the second quarter.

Western continued to press the Vikings in the second quarter and reached their highest lead of the game with a 14 point advantage and just 2:30 remaining until half time. WWU would score two unanswered baskets to close the lead to 32-22 going into the half.

WWU closed the scoring gap midway through the fourth quarter. The Vikings would chip away at the Wolves’ lead, scoring 12 unanswered points to put WWU up 51-50 with 4:44 remaining in the game.

With Western clinging on to a 1 point lead with less than a minute to go, WWU hit a dagger 3-pointer to crush the Wolves’ hope for a victory.

The loss brings the Wolves’ overall record to 2-10 and 1-3 in GNAC conference play.

Next up the Wolves head to Alaska to face the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016.

The next home game is on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. in the New P.E. Building. Fans are asked to wear black to support their team. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office on game day.