Box Score HAYWARD, Calif. – The Pioneer women's basketball team battled hard in a 79-66 defeat to seventh-ranked NAIA Westmont on Wednesday.

With the defeat, the Pioneers are 2-2 for the season. Westmont remains undefeated at 6-0.

The Pioneers converted 25 of 61 field goals and 6 of 17 three pointers, compared to the Warriors 26 of 54 and 8 of 21 attempts from the arc. Westmont held an advantage at the free throw line, converting 19 of 25 attempts. The Warriors made 16 of 21 free throws in the second half. East Bay was 10 of 11 from the free throw line.

Lauren Lucchesi led three Pioneer players in double figures with 17 points on 7 of 10 from the field, 1 of 2 from the three-point area and 2 of 2 from the free throw line. Micah Walker followed Lucchesi with 15 points, while Brianna Terrance came off the bench to score 11. Terrance tied for team honors with six rebounds. Tori Breshers came off the bench to score nine points and block two shots. Rachel Finnegan played a good game with six rebounds, six assists and no turnovers.

“Lu shot the ball well tonight benefiting from some great passes by her teammates and Bri gave us a good lift again off the bench with her scoring and rebounding,” Pioneer coach Suzy Barcomb said.
“We are playing so many people out of position due to all of our injuries.”  “Rachel found some open shooters tonight leading the team with six assists and zero turnovers.” 

NAIA 2011 Player of the Year Tugce Canitez led all scorers with 29 points, including 15 of 20 from the free throw line. Canitez completed a double-double with 15 rebounds. Esther Lee converted five 3-pointers for 15 points. Kelsie Sampson contributed to the Warrior victory with 13 points and eight rebounds.

“Westmont was an incredibly impressive opponent, clearly deserving of their national ranking,” Barcomb said. “Tugce was impossible to guard. She really asserted herself in the second half and her team fed off of her play-making abilities.” 

Lucchesi accounted for the Pioneers' first seven points including a three-pointer with 17:58 left in the first half to give the Pioneers an early 2-point lead. The Pioneers maintained a 2-point lead with 15:40 remaining on a Brasher  jumper.  Brasher converted a jumper as the Pioneers held their third lead of the first half, 13-12, with 15:03 left.

The Warriors countered with four three-pointers and three free throws to take a 27-17 with 11 minutes remaining. Three minutes later, Westmont took its biggest lead of the first half, 34-19.

East Bay rallied with a 15-6 run in the final eight minutes to cut the Warriors' halftime lead to 40-34. Walker completed a three-point play with 1:45 left, while Terrance scored a basket on a beautiful assist from Walker with 29 seconds remaining in the first half.

Westmont opened the second half with a 6-0 run to take a 46-34 lead.

A basket by Walker and a three-point play by Brasher, narrowed the Warriors' lead to 46-39 with 16:33 remaining. The Pioneers continued to cut into the Warriors' lead as Walker nailed a three-pointer with 12:14 remaining, making the score 55-49.

Westmont took advantage of the free throw line the following seven minutes to take a 68-53 advantage.

Lucchesi completed a three-point play to narrow the Warriors' lead to 70-59 with 4:44 minutes left.

The Warriors scored seven of their last nine points from the free throw line to secure the hard-earned victory.

“It's the first time this season we didn't adjust well to their 3-ball shooting or rebounding abilities,” Barcomb said. “In the second half, we defended the perimeter much better but then we didn't get the job done on the inside. We needed to rebound by committee and it just didn't happen tonight, which is very unusual for us.”

East Bay will begin CCAA play on November 30 with a road game at San Francisco State.

“I think we need to address some key areas when we return from Thanksgiving in order for us to be successful in league this year,” Barcomb said. “If we address of shortcomings and get healthy we could become a very good team.”