SIOUX FALLS, Iowa -- The Eastern Oregon University women’s basketball team fell to Black Hills State University, 67-58, in the first round of the NAIA Div. 2 National Tournament Wednesday.
The seventh-seeded Mountaineers (20-12) rallied to close a double-digit margin to four points late in the second half against second-seeded Black Hill State. The Yellow Jackets were No. 5 in the final regular season poll.
BHSU forced 29 Eastern turnovers, while only committing 14. After shooting 33 percent from the field in the first half, EOU shot 51 percent in the second half, including 37 percent from behind the perimeter.
Black Hills led early after jumping out to a 6-0 lead, but a jump-shot by Salena Leavitt seven minutes into the game made the score 10-8. The Yellow Jackets then made a 7-0 run capped off by a Tiffany Thomas basket. The lead stretched to as many as 18 points in the first half, 35-17, with 2:29 left in the half. BHSU took a 35-19 lead into halftime.
The Yellow Jackets (26-6) took their largest lead two and a half minutes into the second half, 41-21. Eastern Oregon chipped away at the margin over the next 10 minutes and cut the lead to four points, 53-49, after an Alyssa Garro three-pointer with 6:53 remaining in regulation. EOU would come no closer as Black Hills responded with a 9-2 run.
Tana Stickney was the lone Mountaineer to score in double figures with 10 points. The senior also lead Eastern with eight rebounds. Ashlee Michelson concluded her EOU career with a team-high four assists.
Jenna Bolstad led all scorers with 15 points for BHSU. Kelly Krolikowski added 13 points, Thomas had 12, and Katelynn Lamb chipped in 10. Alana Dykhouse had a team-high eight rebounds. Janna Schriber finished with seven assists.
Black Hills State advances to Friday’s second round to play Indiana Wesleyan (27-6).