The Pioneer women's basketball team fell 72-53 (box score) the cross-town Concordia Cavaliers Saturday evening at 5:30 in North East Portland. Crystal Castle had 17 points in the loss.

The game began slowly for both teams. Talerra Rich (sophomore, Los Alamos, N.M.) scored for early points for the Pioneers. With the game tied 9-9 with 12:26 remaining in the half, Concordia went on an14-2 run to take a 23-11 lead. Crystal Castle (senior, Rocklin, Calif.) stopped the run with a three-pointer with 4:07 on the clock. The Pionees got the deficit down to five, 23-18, but the Cavliers managed to build it back up to eight, 29-21, at the half.

The Cavaliers took complete control of the game in the second half, outscoring the Pioneers 22-4 in the first nine minutes of the half, taking a 51-25 lead. The Pioneers finally got their offense going, pulling with 12, 64-52 and flirting with just a single-digit deficit with 2:08 remaining in the game when Concordia swung the momentum back in their direction, cruising to a 72-53 victory.

Crystal Castle led the Pioneers with 17 points. Castle also had six rebounds, two assists, and four steals. Allison Farr (senior, Lakeport, Calif.) scored nine points with six rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.

The Pioneers have an extended break, not playing again until the end of the month when they head to Tacoma to take on Cal State East Bay and Nebraska Wesleyan in a post-holiday tournament Dec. 28-29.