EUGENE, Ore. – The Bushnell University women's basketball team shot 57.4% from the floor to cruise to a 72-58 victory over Multnomah University in Friday night's Cascade Collegiate Conference contest.
 
Bushnell (11-8, 7-6 CCC) had won just one Friday game in conference play prior to tonight. Five of six CCC losses for the Beacons have come on Friday nights.
 
The Beacons got out to a 13-2 lead in the first quarter before nine straight points from the CCC-leading scorer, Savannah Huerta, gave Multnomah momentum going into the second. The Beacons went on to hold Huerta to just five points the rest of the game.
 
The Lions got within five late in the second period, but the Beacons closed the half with a pair of jumpers from Aspen Slifka and a three-pointer by Mandy Sisul near the buzzer to bring a 31-19 advantage into the break.
 
"Basketball is a game of runs," said Libby Mathis. "We've always been a team that relies heavily on our defense to win games. The momentum was going their way in the middle of the second but going on that run at the end was huge for us."
 
The Beacons went on to score 30 points in the third quarter, highlighted by three consecutive three-pointers in less than a two-minute span from Ayden Krupke. Krupke recorded 15 points in the period as Bushnell went into the final quarter with a 24-point lead. The Beacons held the double-digit advantage the rest of the way.
 
Slifka led the Beacons in scoring, recording 26 points, six rebounds and five assists. Krupke finished with a career-high 23 points, making 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Mathis posted a double-double, finishing with 13 points and 15 rebounds, and added four blocks. Aly Mirabile tallied eight assists.
 
Head Coach Chad Meadors said, "Aly is running the show and knows to get the ball to Aspen. Libby is going to dominate on both ends of the floor, Mandy can shoot the basketball, and Ayden can do things nobody else can do. It was Taylor's first game in two years and we were so excited for her to get the opportunity to play."
 
Bushnell's strong shooting night included 8-of-16 from beyond the arc. The Beacons finished with an uncharacteristic 23 turnovers, tying their season high. Multnomah was held to 33.9% from the floor and 6-of-23 from three-point range.
 
Huerta and Marin Abe led the Lions (5-14, 2-11) with 14 points apiece. Gracie Browning finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
 
Up next, Bushnell hosts Warner Pacific on Saturday at 3:00 in the Morse Center.
 
"We all know we lost to Warner Pacific last time and it got us off on the wrong foot," said Meadors. "Warner Pac will show up. We need to execute."