PORTLAND, Ore. – An off-night on offense and on the glass proved to be a combination too difficult for Multnomah University to overcome as the Lions dropped their 2017-18 women's basketball season opener 79-35 to the visiting Trinity Western University Spartans Friday night here at Jim Skagen Court.
Multnomah led only once as Marquel Greene, who led the Lions with 12 points, made a steal and long-range jumper for a 2-0 lead 38 seconds into the contest. The Langley, B.C.-based Spartans tied it on a layup by Kayla Gordon, took the lead on a three-pointer by Jessie Brown, and steadily pulled away thereafter.
The Lions' offense never could get untracked as they finished with a .193 shooting percentage (11-57) to .440 (33-75) for the Spartans. The visitors also held a huge advantage on the boards, 67-31. Multnomah did force 22 TWU turnovers, though, while committing only 19 themselves.
--- By the Numbers: In addition to Greene's dozen, Bethany George scored 10 points for the Lions. Faith Kraatz grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds before fouling out, and Paris Sanders picked up four steals. Sanders and George also had two blocked shots apiece. Six different Lions contributed one assist each.
Trinity Western got 20 points from Gordon, 18 from Ashleigh Barnes, and 15 from Tessa Ratzlaff. Gordon and Barnes also had double-doubles with 14 and 12 rebounds respectively. Tessa Needham handed out six assists, and Kianna Wiens had two steals.
Multnomah is now 0-1 on the season. For Trinity Western, the game was counted as an exhibition.
--- Quoting coach Tim Bieri: "Trinity Western was just bigger, stronger, and faster than we are. I think they would do quite well in our conference."
--- Notes: Lions point guard Valerie Wakefield donned the number 3 usually worn by her sister Ana, who remains in a Portland-area hospital following a serious car accident this past Tuesday morning.
--- Next: Multnomah hosts the University of California-Merced Friday at 4:30 p.m. … Trinity Western continues its three-game road trip with a contest at Warner Pacific College Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
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