LA GRANDE, Ore.Â
Maegen Martin,
Kaelan Shamseldin and
Makana Stone reached double digits for Whitman's sixth-ranked Blues, but host Eastern Oregon University rallied from behind with a 15-0 run to earn a 73-64 non-conference women's basketball victory Wednesday evening at Quinn Coliseum.
Whitman (0-1) led 59-58 early in the fourth quarter, only to have EOU -- 5-1 and ranked seventh nationally in the NAIA Division II preseason rankings -- drop in a jumper and one, then four consecutive 3-pointers to storm ahead.
The Blues had survived a 9-0 Mountaineers run in the third quarter that had erased a 34-29 Whitman halftime lead.
With EOU leading 56-51 at the start of the forth, the Blues got consecutive jumpers from in the paint by
Anissia Hughes and Stone to pull within a point.
A close-in jumper from the Mounties' Stormee Van Belle held off the Blues momentarily but Stone dropped in a put-back from her own miss to again close the gap, an EOU turnover followed, and
Taylor Chambers converted a layin after the quick counter to lift Whitman in front, 59-58.
Eastern Oregon's game-deciding run was sandwiched around six Blues turnovers, which threw water on the come-back efforts and stoked the Mounties' fiery burst.
Early first-half action was error-filled as each team registered four turnovers in their initial eight possessions, allowing the scoreboard some easy work in a 4-4 tie after five minutes of play.
A pair of converted free throws by Martin provided Whitman it's first lead of the game at 6-4, and a trey from the top of the arc by
Lily Gustafson extended the advantage.
By the time the first minutes of the second quarter ticked away the Blues had worked their way into a 20-12 lead, forcing EOU to call a time-out. The Mounties out scored Whitman, 17-14, over the remaining minutes of the quarter but still trailed by five heading into the break.
Martin and Shamseldin finished with 12 points apiece, Shamseldin's all coming from 3-point range. Stone added 10 points and her five rebounds tied for the team lead on the glass with Martin, Hughes and
Emily Rommel.
Maya Ah You-Dias and Jessica Sexson led all scorers with 16 each for EOU.
The teams were an identical 52 percent from the floor, but offsetting Whitman's 33-19 rebounding advantage were 28 turnovers from which EOU converted into 36 points.
The Blues continue their early-season non-conference slate with a trip to the 2017 Ramada at Spokane (Wash.) Airport Whit Classic on Friday and Saturday, hosted by Whitworth University. Whitman takes on University of La Verne (Calif.) Friday afternoon then Whittier (Calif.) University on Saturday afternoon at Whitworth.
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