PORTLAND, Ore. – A fourth-quarter comeback fell short as the visiting Bushnell University women's basketball team dropped their Cascade Collegiate Conference opener, 53-49, to Warner Pacific University on Friday evening.  
 
Bushnell (4-3, 0-1 CCC) held a 29-27 edge going into the break before being held to 22.2% (6-27) shooting in the second half. Warner Pacific (3-1, 2-0) went up by 12 points, 49-37, with 07:40 to go in the fourth quarter before an 8-0 run brought the Beacons back within four.
 
The run, however, was over a seven-minute span, leaving less than a minute on the clock. A pair of made free throws from Libby Mathis brought Bushnell within three, 52-49, with under 10 seconds to go, but the Knights drew a foul and made one final free throw to hold off the Beacon comeback.  
 
Aspen Slifka led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting and recorded four steals. Ayden Krupke finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, scoring all seven of the Beacons' third-quarter points. Libby Mathis added eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
 
The Knights spread out their scoring and were led by Larsa Guzman's 11 points. McKeeley Tonkin and Teirra Hicks scored 10 points apiece, while Alexa Mee led the team in rebounds with 10.
 
Warner Pacific finished with a 50-32 advantage in rebounding, including a 17-7 margin in offensive boards, leading to 14 second-chance points. Bushnell shot 33.9% from the floor, making just 2-of-18 from beyond the arc. WPU finished 32.2% from the field, making 6-of-20 from deep.
 
Up next, Bushnell takes on Multnomah on Saturday at 3 p.m.