Beacons swarmed by Purdue Fort Wayne

WBB: Mastodons force 26 turnovers while pulling away late in Valpo's home opener

VALPARAISO - If one game is a singular occurrence and two games is a trend, the Valparaiso women’s basketball team isn’t trending in the right direction when it comes to closing out the fourth quarter.

In nearly a repeat of Monday’s season-opening loss to Liberty, the Beacons had a chance to get within one possession early in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s home opener against Purdue Fort Wayne, only for the game to slip away down the stretch.

The Mastodons closed the game on a 16-4 run over the final 6:03 to pull away for 72-56 win at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

Liberty outscored Valparaiso 21-7 in the fourth quarter during Monday’s season opener.