LA GRANDE, Ore. – After missing a pair of home games last weekend due to COVID protocols, senior Morgan McKinney returned in a big way on the road on Friday, coming up with multiple key plays in a 73-70 win over conference-leading Eastern Oregon.
 
The Beacons (14-9, 11-4 CCC) have now won seven of their last eight meetings with the Mounties, including two in La Grande where Bushnell is just 3-13 all-time. They did it behind a 46% shooting effort. Head Coach Chad Meadors said, "I can't say enough about this time and the way they were competing and battling and finding a way to win. Claire Salness and Bella Pedrojetti hit some big shots and kept us in the game in the first half when we were in some foul trouble. Then Morgan, Aspen Slifka and Aly Mirabile made the plays in the fourth quarter when we needed them most."
 
An early run gave the Beacons a six-point lead, but EOU eventually battled back to take the advantage in the second quarter. Tied at 25-25, Bushnell scored the final eight points of the half to take a 33-25 lead into the intermission.
 
The Beacons went on to lead by as many 11 in the third quarter, but the home team wouldn't go down without a fight. EOU's Taylor Stricklin put the team on her back, scoring 13 straight Mountie points. Twice the senior hit three-pointers that brought the team to within one point, but each time Bushnell found an answer to hold them off.
 
McKinney finished the game with a team-high 19 points, adding seven rebounds, four assists, and two of Bushnell's five blocks. Slifka finished her night with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three steals while Pedrojetti and Mirabile scored 12 apiece. Libby Mathis came off the bench to lead the team with eight rebounds while Salness added a season-high seven.
 
Eastern Oregon (15-8, 12-3) was led by Stricklin's 20 points and nine rebounds, both game-highs. Adyson Marris added 15 while Haley Robinett and Sailor Liefke each scored 11. The Mounties shot 41% in the game as they had a seven-game winning streak snapped, and they fell into a three-way tie in the loss column atop of the conference standings with Southern Oregon and Lewis-Clark State. Bushnell is now just one game back of the trio in fourth place.
 
"It was a great win," said Meadors. "It is hard to win at Eastern Oregon and we have done it twice in a row, and they are not accustomed to that. We are looking forward to tomorrow afternoon and trying to get some momentum as we get everyone back from injuries and COVID protocols."
 
The Beacons return to action on Saturday at 3:00 pm (MDT), taking on The College of Idaho.