NEW ORLEANS -- The Eastern Washington University women's basketball team dropped a 93-78 decision to Drake in the consolation game of the 21st Annual Tulane Classic on Thursday (Dec. 22) afternoon.

"Drake is a really good basketball team, and I thought we played hard, but their offensive firepower was too much for us," said head coach Wendy Schuller.

The Eagles ran into a hot-shooting Bulldog squad that shot 56.3 percent from the field on Thursday.  Eastern was able to post a 46.3 percent shooting performance, but a 34-21 advantage in points off turnovers for the Bulldogs was too much for Eastern to overcome in the team's final non-conference game of the season.

"We are ready to tackle Big Sky play," Schuller expressed after the game. "I think our tough non-conference schedule has definitely prepared us for the rigors of what we'll see in our conference."

Redshirt senior Tisha Phillips was an assist away from a double-double, as she finished the day with 20 points and a season-best nine assists. The point guard also added six steals and four rebounds to her stat line.

"I thought Tisha played as complete a game as I've seen her play," said the head coach of her point guard's performance.

Junior Delaney Hodgins tallied 19 points to extend her double-digit scoring streak to 28 games, while freshman Symone Starks came off the bench and poured in a career-best 16 points.

Win-Loss Records: Eastern Washington falls to 5-6 on the year, while Drake improves to 7-4.

What It Means: With the loss, Eastern falls below the .500 mark for the first time since going into a contest at Utah Valley on Nov. 22. The Eagles picked up an 83-50 over the Wolverines to improve to 2-2 on the year on that day. Eastern Washington also ends its stay at the 21st Annual Tulane Classic 0-2 with the loss.

Turning Point: Freshman Symone Starks pulled the Eagles within four points at 62-58 after a 3-point field goal at the 2:48 mark of the third quarter. Drake would go on a 13-3 run from to put the game out of reach for the Eagles at 75-61 with 7:54 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Key Stats:  For the second-straight night, Eastern coughed up 20-plus turnovers. The Eagles committed 25 turnovers, but forced Drake into 22 miscues. Drake was able to capitalize on the on Eastern's miscues as the Bulldogs outscored the Eagles by 13 in points off turnovers.

Top Performers: Redshirts senior Tisha Phillips flirted with a double-double on Thursday, as the point guard picked up a team-best 20 points and handed out a season-high nine assists. Phillips also had six steals against the Bulldogs.

Junior Delaney Hodgins poured in 19 points and shot an even 50 percent (8-of-16) from the field.

Freshman Symone Starks scored a career-best 16 points off the bench for Eastern. Her 16 points provided all the bench scoring for the Eagles. Starks also connected on three 3-point field goals.

Notables: The Eagles fall below the .500 mark for the first time since they were 1-2 after a win over Furman on Nov. 19.

With a 19-point outing against Drake, junior Delaney Hodgins extends her double-digit scoring streak to a remarkable 28-straightt game.

Redshirt senior Tisha Phillips record her second 20-plus point game of the season with an even 20 points against the Bulldogs. The only other 20-plus point contest for Phillips came on Dec. 8 at Boise State when she dropped 25 points against the Broncos.

Freshman Symone Starks doubled her previous career-best in points with 16 on Thursday night.

Eastern Washington went 10-of-26 from behind the arc on the day. It is the 313th-straight contest the Eagles have hit at least one 3-point field goal.

What's Next: The Eagles now move onto Big Sky Conference play, as they open the 2016-17 conference slate with rival Idaho on Dec. 31 at Reese Court. Tip-off is set for 2:05 p.m. PT.

For more information on the Eastern Washington women's basketball team, follow @EWUWBB on Twitter and Instagram or like EWU Women's Basketball on Facebook.