Haskell Indian Nations University’s women’s basketball team followed the pattern of the Fightin’ Indians men’s squad.

Monday, the HINU men squandered a 16-point, second-half advantage by scoring only two points in the final five minutes of an 85-81 loss to McPherson.

Wednesday, Haskell’s women suffered a four-minute scoring drought in the first half that doomed the Indians in a 81-60 defeat to Ottawa University at Coffin Sports Complex.

Another four-minute scoring drought in the second half, plus an added three-minute spurt of zero points in the final 10 minutes, didn’t help.

“We just got beat tonight,” HINU coach Phil Homeratha said.

“I think they’ve got a ways to go,” Homeratha said of his young 0-2 squad that returns only one experienced player from a year ago. “When you come down, take a quick shot and only get one opportunity out of it, that’s pretty much all there is to it.”

The Indians hurt themselves with an inept offense, but Ottawa was confident when it had the ball. The Braves, who beat HINU by just a point last season, were helped by improved three-point shooting.

“We were trying to get out and run, and make them shoot some shots from outside because they only made like 18 percent last year behind the arc,” Homeratha said.

That didn’t work because the Braves sank 13 of 22 three-pointers, including 7-of-10 in the first half.

Haskell Indian Nations University's Amber Tecumseh, left, pushes the ball upcourt against Ottawa's Gina Wheat. The Fightin' Indians lost, 81-60, Wednesday at Coffin Sports Complex.

“They certainly improved in that area,” Homeratha said.

Ottawa’s Amber Lannan led all scorers with 20. Amanda Stichler added 13, Gina What 11, and Hallie Boyce 10 for the Braves.

Senior Mellissa Catron led Haskell with 10 points despite a 5-of-16 shooting performance.

“I never really felt comfortable on offense all night,” Homeratha said. “We’re going to get better, but we’re so young that I’m going to have to slow things down a lot. We’re pretty much starting all over again.”

Ottawa University 81,

Haskell Indian Nations U. 60

OTTAWA

Vanessa Pickell 0-1 0-0 0, Katie Sheffield 0-3 0-0 0, Amber Lannan 8-11 4-5 20, Angela Harger 3-3 0-1 9, Tina Rush 2-7 0-0 5, Gina Wheat 4-10 0-0 11, Carie Meller 1-1 0-0 2, Hallie Boyce 3-7 2-2 10, Brittany Broyles 2-4 0-0 6, Amber Frost 1-5 2-3 4, Caysie Heil 0-5 1-2 1, Amanda Stichler 5-5 1-1 13. Totals 29-62 10-14 81.

HASKELL

Amber Tecumseh 2-8 3-4 9, Billie Gransen 3-9 0-0 8, Lucita Yesslith 3-8 0-0 6, Denny Mariea 0-0 0-0 0, Samantha Pete 4-8 0-0 9, Jamie Frederick 2-6 0-0 4, Ruby Beatty 0-2 0-0 0, Honey Roundface 1-4 0-0 2, Melinda Adams 2-4 0-0 4, Mellissa Catron 5-16 0-0 10, Recinda Adams 1-3 0-0 2, Lynnette Hibdon 2-6 0-0 4, Lisa Dixon 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 25-75 5-6 60.

Three-point shooting — Ottawa 13-22 (Harger 3-3, Wheat 3-6, Broyles 2-2, Stichler 2-2, Boyce 2-3, Rush 1-3, Sheffield 0-3), Haskell 5-19 ( Gransen 2-4, Tecumseh 2-7, Pete 1-3, Beatty 0-1, Roundface 0-1, Yesslith 0-1, Catron 0-2). Personal Fouls — Ottawa 12, Haskell 19. Foul Out — None. Technicals — None. Turnovers — Ottawa 14, Haskell 10.