LAWTON, Okla.  Alyssa Eckroth reached double figures for Western Colorado, but it wasn't enough for the Mountaineers who dropped a 59-43 non-conference decision to Washburn (Kan.) University in the opening game Friday at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Holiday Classic, hosted by Cameron (Okla.) University.

The Mountaineers and Ichabods were meeting for the first time in each program's history.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Washburn def. Western, 59-43
Records: Western 5-4, Washburn 8-3
Location: Aggie Gym, Lawton, Okla.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was a slow start for the Mountaineers as they fell behind 5-0, 8-2 and at first quarter's end, 15-9.
• The Washburn advantage climbed to eight (17-9) in the opening minute of the second frame, but Western finally found its footing beginning with a Jayda Maves 3-pointer and clawed back to within three points twice before heading into the halftime break trailing 26-20.
• The Ichabods once again scored first in the new quarter only to have Maves drop in another triple to cut the margin to 28-23 in the early minutes of the third, but Washburn would respond with a 13-3 run to open up a double digit lead, 41-28, entering the final quarter.
• An Eckroth 3-pointer pulled back some momentum at the start of the quarter, and eventually Western pulled within six, 47-41, after a spurt that included 3's from Ivey Schmidt and Penelope Urquhart and free throws from Schmidt and Maves.
• Washburn scored 12 unanswered points, however, to stave off Western's challenge and record a 16-point win over the Mountaineers.

COURT NOTES

• Eckroth finished with 10 points to lead the Mountaineers, with Schmidt and Maves each contributing 8 apiece in the losing effort.
• Western would finish the outing shooting 32 percent from the floor while the 'Bods hit 43%.
• Rebounding was even between the teams, Washburn with a 27-26 edge, but the Ichabods were tough to stop inside as they scored 26 points from in the paint compared to Western's 14.

UP NEXT
Western continues action at the Holiday Classic with a 1 p.m. neutral site, non-conference Saturday game against 12th-ranked Pittsburgh State (Kan.) University.