SEATTLE – A slow start had the Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team (0-4) playing catch up the entire game as the Cougars fell 65-48 to Western Washington (2-3) in the SPU Region Crossover on Saturday night in Seattle at Royal Brougham Pavilion.

TOP PERFORMERS
Rose Morse – 10 points | 1 assist
Roy Hetrick – 7 points | 2 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 block
Kacie Slover – 8 points | 7 rebounds | 1 steal
Destiny Okonkwo – 2 points | 9 rebounds | 1 assist

HOW IT HAPPENED

• WWU came out of the gate on fire with a 21-3 lead in the first quarter.
• The Cougars came alive in the second quarter, outscoring the Vikings 15-13.
• WWU took a 34-18 lead into the break after shooting 41.2% (14-of-34) from the field to CSUSM's 21.4% (6-of-28).
• WWU's Alyson Deaver led all scorers with 16 points in the first half.
• CSUSM closed the gap to 44-33 on a Kate Bobadilla layup with 1:44 remaining in the third quarter.
• The Cougars closed the deficit to five (48-43) on an Okonkwo second-chance layup at the 7:29 mark of the fourth quarter.
• The Vikings answered with a 17-5 run to close the game.
   

FAST BREAKS

• CSUSM shot 34.6% (18-of-52) from the field to WWU's 44.1 (26-of-59).
• The Cougars won the battle of the boards, 34-31.
• CSUSM finished with seven 3-pointers to WWU's four.
• The Vikings forced CSUSM to commit 20 turnovers, tallying 18 points off them.
• CSUSM got 16 points off its bench while WWU only got eight.
   

UP NEXT
CSUSM finally hosts its season opener next week when the Cougars welcome Saint Martin's to The Sports Center on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.