MONMOUTH, Ore. -- Bayleigh Harder (Sr., F/C) scored 27 points for The Evergreen State College, but the Geoducks fell to Western Oregon University 104-77 on Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Wolves Athletic Center. It was Evergreen's season opener.

Western Oregon held a 29-20 lead after the first quarter on its way to a 64-32 halftime lead. The Geoducks outscored the Wolves 45-40 in the second half, including 25-19 in the fourth quarter. Evergreen competed with just six players due to injuries. Western Oregon improved to 3-1 on the season.

Harder recorded her 28 points while hitting 11 of 21 shots from the field, including 4 of 12 from 3-point range. She led Evergreen with seven rebounds. Amaya Afatasi (Jr., PG) scored 15 points, was 8 for 10 at the free throw line, grabbed six rebounds, and provided three assists.

Shaunya Kahananui (Jr., F) and Jenna Glenzel (Sr., G each added 14 points and four rebounds for the Geoducks. Kahananui was 5 for 7 from the field and finished with five rebounds. Glenzel went 4 for 4 on free throws. Kahananui and Glenzel both connected on two 3-point shots. Amaialyne Cepeda (Sr., G) was credited with three assists.

For the Wolves, Kylani Rookstook scored 30 points, and Enid Vaifanua tallied 24 points. Rookstool was 10 of 15 from the field and went 6 for 11 from behind the three-point arc. Vaifanua was 10 of 16 on field goals and sank 3 of 8 three-point shots. Mya India Thomas tacked on 12 points, while sinking 4 of 8 long-range shots. 

Natalie Brown led WOU with eight rebounds. Vaifanua and Rookstool both earned seven boards. Ciona Wells recorded a game-high three steals.

The Wolves charged out to a 12-1 lead with 5:48 left in the opening quarter. Eight of the points were earned by Rookstool. The Geoducks went on a 10-5 run to reduce the margin to 17-11 when Glenzel hit two free throws with 3:37 on the clock. WOU ended the quarter with a 12-9 run.

Each team added a 3-point basket in the first minute of the second quarter, leaving Western Oregon with a 32-23 lead. The Wolves went on to outscore the Geoducks 35-12 during the second quarter. 

WOU shot 53.10% (26 of 49) in the first half, including 9 of 21 (42.9%) on 3-point attempts. Evergreen was 4 of 12 on 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes (33.3%).

The Wolves claimed a narrow 21-20 scoring edge over the Geoducks in the third quarter. Western Oregon entered the final quarter with an 85-52 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Evergreen connected on 10 of 14 field goals and made 4 of 6 three-point shots. Evergreen's 3-point baskets during the quarter were earned by Kahananui, Harder, Afatasi, and Glenzel.

For the game, WOU shot 45.5% from the field (40 of 88), while hitting 16 of 41 three-pointers (39.0%). The Geoducks finished at 44.8% in overall field goal shooting (26 of 58) and connected on 10 of 26 three-pointers (38.5%). 

The Geoducks will play an exhibition game at Saint Martin's University on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Game time in Lacey, Washington, is scheduled for 6 p.m. PST.