LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Bushnell University women's basketball team battled Eastern Oregon University to open the new year, falling 71-61 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference contest on Friday night.
 
The evening was highlighted by 20-point, 12-rebound double-double from senior Libby Mathis. She tied Bushnell's career record for double-doubles (20) after her first basket of the third quarter. Mathis now shares the record with Lindsey Shearer (2010-13). She also had four blocks on the night.
 
Head Coach Chad Meadors said, "We got off to a great start and aside from the second quarter, we executed really well. Offense has been our struggle, but we moved the ball well tonight. We had too many turnovers and just missed so many shots and good looks. We got the ball to the right spots but we could have shot the ball so much better than we did."
 
The Beacons got out to a 19-10 lead in the opening quarter, holding the Mountaineers to 2-of-24 from the floor. The Mounties came out of the second quarter on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to one, finishing with a 23-10 advantage in the frame to bring a 33-29 edge into the break.   
 
EOU led by as many as 15 points in the fourth before an 8-0 surge pulled Bushnell within seven with three and a half minutes to play. That would be as close as the Beacons would get as the Mounties earned the victory on their home court. 
 
Bushnell (4-9, 3-4 CCC) shot 40.3% from the floor, making 4-of-14 from beyond the arc. Ellis Mastel recorded a career-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting and added seven boards. Mandy Sisul scored 11 points, including a trio of three-pointers.
 
Eastern Oregon (7-4, 3-3) shot 35.1% from the field and was led by Brie Holecek, who finished with 24 points and eight rebounds. Kelsie Siegner and Kaiea Waiwaiole recorded 13 points apiece. The Mounties forced 18 Beacon turnovers, resulting in 23 points, and finished with a 17-12 advantage in offensive boards.
 
"Tomorrow, we have another chance to get this thing right and find a way to get the ball in the basket more consistently," said Meadors. "We will stay the course and keep at it."
 
The Beacons continue their road trip tomorrow, taking on the College of Idaho (6-5, 4-2) at 3 p.m. (MT).