Cheney, Wash. - The Eastern Washington University women's basketball team took a crucial victory over Big Sky Conference opponent Idaho, 84-70, On Saturday, Feb. 27, as senior Hayley Hodgins played her final collegiate home game at Reese Court.

Win-Loss Records

Eastern improves to 19-9 with the win and 13-3 in league play, while Idaho drops to 20-8 with the loss and 12-4 in league play.

Turning Point

The tone of the game was set early on, as EWU converted five of its first seven shots; including two early threes to take a 12-4 lead only five minutes into the game.  It was clear offenses would rule the day. However, the Vandals were not about to be out-performed offensively, ending the first quarter on a 17-2 run that propelled them to a 21-14 lead heading into the second quarter. Both teams really started firing on all cylinders at this point, with the slight edge in favor of the Eagles. They ended the half on a two-minute, 9-2 run that included six straight points from junior Tisha Phillips, taking a 38-37 lead. Overall, Eastern and Idaho each shot over 50% from the field.

Back and forth the teams went in the third quarter, resulting in two ties and nine lead changes. EWU held onto its one point lead, 58-57, with the final quarter looming ahead. After the fourth quarter started with much of the same, the Eagles began to heat up to an absurd pace with 6:38 left in the game. The run started with both teams tied 62-62, and soon enough it was 71-64 with 4:59 left after Hayley Hodgins drained a three pointer that just followed her fastbreak layup. The lead was extended one possession later when Tisha Phillips scored her 22^nd point on a contested layup, reaching a new career high in points.  Junior Ashli Payne kept the run going, nailing a three pointer off an Idaho turnover just 20 seconds later, as Eastern took a 76-64 lead. EWU continued to contain UI's offense, while the Eagles continued to unleash theirs. Despite a close game throughout three quarters, the contest finished in dominant fashion for Eastern, with a 22-8 run, on an absurd 9-of-11 shooting, over nearly seven minutes of play. EWU finished the second half shooting 20-of-30 from the field.

Top Performers

Tisha Phillips led the team in scoring with 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting, she also tallied a team leading six assists, and three steals.

Hayley Hodgins scored 18 points on 8-of-17 shooting, while recording two blocks and two steals.

Sophomore Delaney Hodgins scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while grabbing seven rebounds. She also led the team with four blocks, and tallied three steals and three assists as well.

Junior Ashli Payne scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, with a team high nine rebounds.

Key Statistics

Eastern shot 60 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three, while Idaho shot 48.1 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from three.

EWU turned the ball over 17 times, allowing UI to score 14 points off the mistakes. The Vandals turned the ball over 19 times, allowing the Eagles to score 19 points off the miscues.

Eastern collected 32 total rebounds and 10 offensive, resulting in 17 second chance points. Compared to 24 total boards by Idaho and nine offensive, resulting in 11 second chance points.

Quoting Coach Schuller

On today's game:

"I was proud of our kids for stepping up and making plays. I thought our offensive execution in the second half overall was about as good as it's been all year in terms of running our stuff and getting what we're trying to look off of it."

On what is need in the final two games:

"No let down.  We have to continue to work to get better every day. There are things today that weren't perfect and we know we can improve on. We're going to two tough places to play. Pocatello is never easy, and those guys scrap and play hard. We're going to have our work cut out for us, and we have to take every game that's in front of us; that game only. That's what we've tried to do all year and have to continue to do. "

Quoting Hayley Hodgins

On Senior Day:

"I was more focused on the win. I think our team really pulled one out for me, and that made me emotional at the end. It's surreal, but I know we have a lot more left in us this season, and we have to keep chugging away."

Game Notes

It was Senior Day for the Eagles, as Hayley Hodgins played her last career home game for EWU.

Hayley Hodgins now has 1,769 career points, ranked 8th on the all-time Big Sky scoring leaderboard. She passing Weber State's Julie Gjersten (2001-05), and is now only 16 points away from passing Idaho's Mary Raese (1983-87) at 1,785 points.

Up Next

The Eagles travel for their final road trip of the season, facing Idaho State, on Wednesday, Mar. 2, starting at 6 p.m. PST.