Mesa, Ariz. – In their first action of the season, the Multnomah University women's basketball team came up against a strong first year program in Benedictine-Mesa, losing 83-62 on the road on Friday night.
 
The Lions (0-1) begin their second season in the NAIA while Benedictine, a member of the NAIA's CalPac Conference, begin their first season sponsoring women's basketball.
 
Senior forward Lacie Kamper picked up where she left of last season, scoring a game high 19 points, going 8-of-10 from the free throw line. Kamper also tied a game high eight rebounds.
 
Multnomah outscored the home team in both the second quarter and the fourth quarter but couldn't overcome a 30-13 first quarter start by the Redhawks.
 
Sophomore Ana Wakefield hit two shots from behind the arc along with four free throws to finish with 14 points while Milan Woods added seven points and Erin Estabrook finished with seven rebounds.
 
Benedictine shot 42 percent from the field while holding the Lions to a shooting percentage of 32 percent and forcing 27 turnovers.
 
MU continues their trip through Arizona tomorrow, traveling to Prescott to play Embry-Riddle with tip-off set for 2 p.m.