ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies fell to Purdue Fort Wayne 84-64, at OU Credit Union O'rena despite scoring 32 points in the paint. Oakland was unable to shake off a slow start from the field, playing from behind despite several runs later in the game.

Oakland opened the game with determination but faced an early challenge as Purdue Fort Wayne took a commanding lead behind a 14-0 run, giving them a 21-3 lead. Oakland's Lianna Baxter connected on a three-pointer at 7:16. However, PFW maintained control, extending their lead through efficient shooting, particularly in the paint. Despite a late three-pointer from Layla Gold at 1:13, Oakland trailed 24–8 at the end of the first quarter.

Oakland narrowed the gap with a series of effective plays to start the second quarter, starting 4-for-8 from the field. Angie Smith contributed significantly, hitting a jumper and a 3-pointer in quick succession at the two-minute mark as part of her seven second-quarter points, helping to stabilize the momentum for Oakland. Despite these efforts, the Mastodons managed to maintain a slight edge, ending the quarter with a 42-25 lead over Oakland.

The Golden Grizzlies scored 17 points in the second, compared to eight in the first quarter, going 7-for-17 from the field in a much improved shooting effort.

Oakland narrowed the gap early in the third quarter with Layla Gold hitting a jumper just 11 seconds into play, followed by a three-pointer from Dupree-Hebert at 9:13. Despite these efforts, PFW matched the efforts of the Golden Grizzlies as each team started 3-for-3 from the field.

Midway through the quarter, Lianna Baxter added crucial points with a layup at 8:33, while Angie Smith contributed with a layup at 7:32. However, PFW's persistent scoring kept them ahead. The quarter concluded with a free throw by Sereniti Roberts-Adams, and Oakland trailed 61-41 at the end of the third quarter.

Oakland had their best frame in the fourth quarter, scoring a game-high 23 points in the final 10 minutes. Lianna Baxter led a notable run by hitting a crucial three-pointer at 5:39 and adding another at 2:50. Angie Smith added back-to-back layups in transition, narrowing the gap in the latter stages. Despite their efforts the game ended with a final score of 84-64.

One area Oakland asserted their will was on the glass, tallying 31 rebounds, one more than PFW, while grabbing 11 offensive rebounds to the Mastodons' seven.

Lianna Baxter led the team with 15 points, including three triples, and collected six rebounds. Layla Gold scored 13 points and added four rebounds. Angie Smith contributed 13 points, recorded two steals, and secured six rebounds as she scored in double-digits for the fifth straight contest. Makenzie Luehring posted six points and recorded five assists.

In their next game, Oakland will face Youngstown State University on Monday, Jan. 5. The matchup is set for 6:30 p.m. at Beeghly Center in Youngstown, Ohio.