CHENEY, Wash. – After a one-week holiday hiatus from competition, the Eastern Washington University women's basketball team is gearing up for the start of Big Sky Conference play. The Eagles open the 18-game conference slate at home against Northern Colorado (Dec. 28) and North Dakota (Dec. 30). Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and 2 p.m. Pacific time, respectively, and can be watched on Pluto TV Ch. 234 or WatchBigSky.com.
 
EWU closed out the nonconference portion of the schedule at the Traveler's Invitational on Dec. 17-20. The Eagles went 1-2 over the stretch, topping UT Martin but falling to both Purdue and Saint Mary's. Brittany Klaman hit the game-winning three-pointer with four seconds left against the Skyhawks, closing out nonconference play on a high note. The Eagles went 5-7 overall during the first half of the season.
 
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: Senior Delaney Hodgins, who was also selected as the Preseason Big Sky MVP, leads the way with an average of 19.1 points per game, which is fifth in the Big Sky, and 7.4 rebounds per game. Violet Kapri Morrow is the other Eagle in double figures, as she averages 10.5. Sophomore Symone Starks leads the conference with 3.3 steals per game.
 
As a team, the Eagles average 59.4 point per game and 34.1 rebounds per game and are shooting 38.4 percent from the field. They lead the conference with 4.9 blocked shots per game and are second in steals with 11.5 per contest. Their 13.4 offensive rebounds per game is fourth.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARS: Northern Colorado finished the nonconference season 8-3, tied for first with Weber State for the best nonconference record. The Bears were picked to finish first in the Big Sky preseason coaches and media poll and are currently ranked No. 14 in the Mid-Major poll.
 
UNC has three players that average double figures in Savannah Smith (15.9), Courtney Smith (14.0) and Savannah Scott (14.0). The Bears average 70.7 points per game and limit their opponents to just 62.4 points, they also lead the league in free throw percentage (83.7). UNC is shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from behind the arc. They average 16.8 assists per game to lead the Big Sky Conference.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Eastern Washington trails the all-time series 9-12, but are currently riding a three-game win streak over the Bears. The two teams last met on Feb. 11, 2017 in Cheney where EWU won 67-61. Delaney Hodgins scored 22 points and the Eagles had four in double figures in the victory.
 
The Eagles are 6-4 all-time against UNC at Reese Court. The Bears are looking for its first win over EWU since Jan. 22, 2014 where they won 64-56 in Greeley.
 
SCOUTING THE FIGHTING HAWKS: This will be North Dakota's final year in the Big Sky Conference before heading to The Summit League next season. The Fighting Hawks face Idaho on the road on Thursday before heading to Cheney, and are 7-4 on the year. UND was picked to finish second in the Big Sky preseason coaches and media polls.
 
Offensively, the Fighting Hawks are let by Lexi Klabo who has six games of 20 or more points this season, and averages 19.5 a game with five double-doubles. She also pulls down 9.5 rebounds a contest and is first in the conference with 2.8 blocks.
 
As a team, UND averages 69.3 points per game while their opponents score 67.0. They also outrebound their opponents with 43.9 boards per contest compared to 35.9.
 
SERIES HISTORY: EWU trails the all-time series, 3-5 and the two teams sit at an even 2-2 at Reese Court. Eastern is on a two-game losing streak to UND. They last met on Feb. 9, 2017 at Reese Court where they fell 75-71. The Eagles are looking for their first win over North Dakota since Jan. 2, 2016.
 
HODGINS NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT: Delaney Hodgins earned all-tournament honors after scoring 55 points in three games, an 18.3 points per game average. She shot 40.4 percent over the invitational on 23-for-57 shooting. She also averaged 7.7 rebounds per game, had eight assists, two blocks and four steals. She shot 50 percent from the free throw line (4-8) and 29.4 percent from three-point range (5-17).
 
SOARING TO THE TOP: After scoring 18 points against UT Martin, Delaney Hodgins now has 1,657 career points to rank third all-time on EWU's all-time career scoring list. The Preseason Big Sky MVP is just 78 points away from moving into sole possession of second place and is 209 away from breaking her older sister Haley Hodgins' all-time record of 1,865 points.
 
UP NEXT: Eastern Washington opens 2018 with a pair of Big Sky Conference road games against Portland State (Jan. 4) and Sacramento State (Jan. 6).