KLAMATH FALLS — In a back-and-forth affair, the Eastern Oregon women’s basketball opened its Cascade Collegiate Conference regular season with a one-point defeat.

The Mountaineers (4-1, 0-1 CCC) fell to the Oregon Tech Owls (6-0, 1-0 CCC) by a score of 68-67 in Klamath Falls on Friday, December 1. Despite overcoming a nine-point deficit in the first half, Eastern Oregon fell by way of a last-second basket to give Oregon Tech the win.

The game was back and forth from start to finish, as the Mountaineers and Owls exchanged the lead 18 times.

Brie Holocek led the way for the Mountaineers, totaling 23 points and eight rebounds. She scored 11 points in the first half, as Eastern Oregon trailed 19-17 after the first quarter and 39-34 at halftime. Oregon Tech capitalized off a 26-17 advantage on the boards in the first half.

Holocek was Eastern Oregon’s primary scorer in the second half as well, totaling 12 points in the final two quarters. Beverly Slater recorded seven rebounds in the second half to help the Mountaineers cut into the rebounding deficit.

The third quarter was advantageous for Eastern Oregon, who held a 19-12 advantage in the frame to go into the fourth quarter leading 53-51. Both teams battled back-and-forth in the fourth quarter, as Holocek converted a layup with 51 seconds remaining to give Eastern Oregon a 67-66 advantage. Oregon Tech got the ball back with 28 seconds remaining, finding Olivia Sprague for the game-winning jumper with three seconds left to give the Owls a 68-67 advantage. Eastern Oregon was unable to put up a final shot attempt, falling by one point in the team’s conference opener.

In addition to Holecek, Kelsie Siegner (13) and Bayley Brennan (10) each finished with double-digit score lines. Sprague was one of three Owls to score in double figures.

Up next, the Mountaineers will travel to Ashland to face off with Southern Oregon at 3 p.m on Dec. 2.