MONMOUTH, Ore.  – A slow start proved too difficult to overcome, but the NCU women's basketball team played a gritty fourth quarter to keep things close as they dropped their final non-conference game of the season to Western Oregon University, 79-62.
 
Trailing 36-25 at halftime, the Beacons allowed a 6-0 run by the Wolves to open the third quarter and creating what proved to be an insurmountable hole. NCU continued to show signs of life, however, and outscored WOU 23-13 in the fourth quarter as they shot 67% and hit a triplet of big three-pointers.
 
Head Coach Chad Meadors said, "This was definitely a step in the right direction for us, going into conference play. We were very competitive tonight. We are still making mistakes but the effort is there. We are starting to attack in the third and fourth quarter and from one game to the next there is improvement. Once we eliminate some basic mistakes, we are going to flip this thing."
 
The Beacons (5-6) were led by Morgan McKinney, scoring 21 points as she hit five of NCU's six three-pointers. Shanay Dotson shot 5-for-7 from the field and matched McKinney with a team-leading six rebounds.
 
Western Oregon (3-4) had four players in double-figures led by 14 from Natalie DeLonge. Ali Nelke posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, adding five assists and two blocks.
 
After four straight on the road, the Beacons come home this Saturday to resume Cascade Collegiate Conference action against No. 17 Eastern Oregon University at 4:00 pm.