Malibu, Calif. -- The East Carolina women's basketball team fell to Montana in the first game of the 2004 Four Points LAX Turkey Shootout Friday, Nov. 26, 71-63.

Trailing 53-42 with 11:32 left in the game, the Pirates (1-2) stepped up their defense, creating five second half steals and 11 turnovers to cut the Grizzlies lead to five, 53-48. During the Pirate run, Senior forward Shanita Sutton scored six points and Keisha Anthony hit a seven-foot jumper. Sutton would finish the game with nine points and seven rebounds.

The Pirates got within three, 66-63, with 2:10 remaining on a Soraya Hellaby jumper, but the Grizzlies (2-1) hit all six of their free throws down the stretch and the Pirates were unable to connect on any shots to close out the game.

Hellaby lead all Pirates in scoring picking up a career-high 12 points, while hitting 6-of-10 from the floor. Jennifer Jackson, Viola Cooper and Anthony scored nine points each.

ECU will play Cal State Fullerton Saturday, Nov. 27 at 4 p.m. (EST) inside Firestone Fieldhouse.

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