TICKETS | WBI BRACKET | ABOUT WBI
CHENEY, Wash. -- History will take place against a familiar foe on Monday (March 20) at Reese Court, as the Eastern Washington University women's basketball team hosts its first-ever national postseason tournament game against Idaho in the Quarterfinals of the 2017 Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI). Tip-off against the Vandals is set for 6:05 p.m. PT.
Monday's second round WBI matchup marks the fourth time this season that both Eastern Washington and Idaho have seen one another on the basketball court. Eastern is 2-1 so far against the rival Vandals, which includes a 67-57 win at Reese Court in both team's Big Sky Conference season opener back on Dec. 31. The Eagles also ended Idaho's hope for a repeat title at the Big Sky Tournament this season, as EWU knocked off the defending Big Sky Champs in the Quarterfinals, 73-64, just 12 days ago.
Both teams took different routes to advance out of the first round of the WBI. Eastern Washington had travel nearly 2,200 miles to San Marcos, Texas and picked up a 66-62 overtime win at Texas State last Thursday (March 16), while Idaho stayed in Moscow and earned a 64-57 win over Utah State the day prior.
How to Watch
Monday's WBI Quarterfinal contest will be streamed for free live on WatchBigSky.com and on the Watch Big Sky app.
Get Your Tickets
There are still plenty of tickets for Monday's game against the rival Idaho Vandals. Go to GoEags.com/tickets to buy yours now. The Eastern Washington Athletic Ticket Office will also be selling tickets inside their Cheney Hall location (205 A) from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. prior to Monday's game.
Three in a Row
Eastern comes into Monday's bout looking for its 20th win of the season, as they are currently stand at 19-13 this season. If Eastern Washington were to knock off the Vandals and advance to the WBI Semifinals, it would mark the first time in program history that the Eagles have posted three-straight 20-win seasons.
History in the Making
Monday's WBI Quarterfinal contest marks the first time in program history that the Eagles will host a national postseason tournament game. Eastern Washington will also be seeking a second win in this year's WBI. EWU has never won more than one national postseason tournament game in a season, and that came back in 2015 with a win over Washington State in the first round of the WNIT.
Avoiding a Trend
Last Thursday, Eastern picked up just its second-ever win in a national postseason tournament with a 66-62 victory in overtime at Texas State. The Eagles lone postseason tournament win prior to Thursday came during the 2015 WNIT, when they knocked off Washington State, 67-65, in Pullman.
Eastern Washington looks to avoid a similar fate after collecting a WBI first round win as the 2015 squad. Oddly enough after their 2015 WNIT win over the Cougars, EWU's opponent in the next round would come from the Big Sky Conference, Sacramento State. Eastern dropped an 84-49 decision to the Hornets on the road to end its run in the WNIT.
Ruling Reese
Eastern Washington has enjoyed an ample amount of success at Reese Court against Big Sky teams since the beginning of the 2014-15 season. The Eagles are 21-5 at home against the Big Sky over that time frame, with the lone losses coming to Sacramento State (2x), Montana State, North Dakota and Southern Utah.
Saving The Best for Last?
Senior Ashli Payne left it all out on the court last Thursday in San Marcos, Texas. The Bremerton, Washington native scored a career-high 27 points, matched her season-high in rebounds with 14 and drilled a season-best four 3-point field goals against the Wildcats. It was her fifth double-double of the season and the 13th of her two-year career at Eastern.
Knowing Your Opponent: Idaho
The Vandals come into Monday's matchup sporting an 18-14 overall record after picking up a seven-point win over Utah State in Moscow last Wednesday (March 15). Idaho finished the Big Sky Conference regular season standings in fifth at 11-7. UI will be coming into Reese looking for revenge, as the Vandals were knocked out of the Big Sky Tournament by Eastern Washington on March 8.
Sophomore Mikayla Ferenz leads Idaho with her 17.8 points per game average. The All-Big Sky first team selection scored 13 points in the first round win over Utah State. She scored 23 points against the Eagles in their Big Sky Tournament Quarterfinal matchup just 12 days ago. Sophomore Taylor Pierce led the Vandals in scoring against the Aggies with 19 points. The 3-point specialist scored 23 points against the Eagles in Idaho's lone win against EWU this season back on Feb. 18 in Moscow.
As a team, the Vandals average 71.8 points per game on 41.4 shooting percentage. Meanwhile, Idaho is giving up 68.1 points per game, with teams shooting 40.1 percent against them. UI is the top free throw shooting team in the Big Sky with a 78.9 percent success rate and they hold the second-best 3-point field goal percentage at 34.6 percent.
For more information on the Eastern Washington University women's basketball team, follow @EWUWBB on Twitter and Instagram and be sure to like EWU Women's Basketball on Facebook.
