PORTLAND, Ore. – After falling to a fourth-quarter comeback on Friday, Bushnell had the resolve not to let history repeat on Saturday, defeating Eastern Oregon University, 68-65.  
 
Head Coach Chad Meadors said, "For the last year, we've had 380-something days that we haven't played and it is just amazing to be back on the court. There is no substitution for playing games and we got to play a really good team out of the shoot."
 
The Beacons (1-1) shot 40.6% in the game while holding Eastern Oregon (6-2) to 36% shooting. Bushnell was out-rebounded 46-37 but had an 8-4 advantage in steals.
 
 Bushnell opened the game with an 11-4 run and held a 17-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. The advantage remained four heading into the break at 32-28.
 
The Mounties showed a little magic in the third quarter, going ahead by as many as five, before the lead swung back to the Beacons on back to back layups from Aspen Slifka (pictured) and Olivia Bailon, the latter helped by a precision no-look dime through the lane from Morgan McKinney.
 
The fourth quarter featured four lead changes and five ties, but also saw the Beacons use a 8-0 run to take a 61-53 lead with just under for minutes to play after consecutive triples from Kayce Mock and Slifka. EOU scored seven straight to cut the lead to one but Kaylen Kamelamela was able to stem the tide with a jumper with under 90 seconds to play.
 
Bushnell was able to hold on as Kamelamela and Aly Mirabile combined to go 5-for-6 at the free-throw line in the final 13 seconds to ice the victory.  
 
Slifka once again led the team in scoring with 14 points while Libby Mathis came off the bench to score 12 with two blocks. Kamelamela and Reinecker added 11 points each while Mock collected seven rebounds and two steals. McKinney led the team with four assists.
 
"We made plays," said Head Coach Chad Meadors. "Shots that we missed last night we made tonight. Aspen hit a few big threes and Aly Mirable made the huge free throws for us down the stretch. It was a total team effort. We needed more people to step up and I was just impressed with everyone coming off the bench today. They are trying to grow their role and they stepped up late in the fourth quarter making plays and doing some great things."
 
EOU had three players in double-figures led by 17 from Sailor Liefke, who hit three triples. Beverly Slater posted a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds while Taylor Stricklin added ten points.
 
The Beacons move on to open up official Cascade Collegiate Conference action next weekend, heading to Klamath Falls to face Oregon Tech. The teams will tip-off at 2:00 pm on Friday and 12:00 pm on Saturday.