GREELEY, Colo. – The Eastern Washington University women's basketball team could not overcome a slow start, as they fell to Northern Colorado this morning (Jan. 27) by a score of 63-42 on the road.
 
Jessica McDowell-White led the team with 11 points and four assists.

"Today was a rough day for us shooting the ball and on the glass. We have to have everyone show up for us everyday and that didn't happen today," said head coach Wendy Schuller. "We need to get home and get back in the gym."
 
Northern Colorado held the Eagles scoreless until the 5:58 mark of the first quarter while they opened the game on a 7-0 run. Kennedy Dickie then scored five quick points to bring the Eagles within a basket, 7-5, but it was short lived. Besides a three-pointer from Jenna Dick with three seconds left, Eastern was held scoreless for the remainder of the quarter as the Bears led 18-5.
 
The two sides exchanged runs during the second quarter. Once the Bears opened the scoring with a 4-0 run, the Eagles responded with a 5-0 run of their own to cut their deficit down to nine points, 22-13. It was the Bears' turn to respond, rattling off seven unanswered to pull back ahead 29-13. Eastern Washington got the last say, ending the quarter on a 7-1 run to cut the lead to 10 points at the half, 30-20.
 
The Eagles put together a slightly better second quarter, outshooting the Bears 33.3 percent (5-15) to 21.4 percent (3-14) from the field as each team scoring 12 points apiece.
 
Eastern Washington was able to cut their deficit to single digits by using a 7-2 run midway through the fourth quarter. McDowell-White would make another three-point buzzer beater for the Eagles as time expired, but it came after the Bears had used an 11-2 run to build their lead back to double digits. At the end of the third, the Eagles trailed 48-34.
 
Jenna Dick made a three pointer to open up the fourth quarter to help span a 6-0 run for the Eagles. However, Eastern Washington was held to under 20 percent from the field and were outscored 15-8 during the fourth en route to the 63-42 loss.
 
WIN-LOSS RECORDS: The loss snaps a two-game winning streak over the Bears as the Eagles drop to 2-15 overall and 1-7 in Big Sky play. Northern Colorado improves to 8-9 and 4-3.
 
TOP PERFORMANCES: Jessica McDowell-White shot 4-for-8 from the field and 3-for-5 from three-point range to total 11 points to lead the team. She also had four assists and four rebounds.
 
Both Jenna Dick and Kennedy Dickie added eight points each. Alexyss Newman led the team with three steals while Bella Cravens led the team with a block and five rebounds.
 
KEY STATISTICS: Eastern Washington was outrebounded 58 to 29. They shot 25.9 percent (15-58) from the field and 35.0 percent (7-20) from three-point range. The Bears shot 40.3 percent overall (25-62) and 5-for-16 from three.
 
Both teams took 12 free throw attempts with Eastern making five and UNC making eight.
 
The Eagles won the turnover battle, only committing 11 to Northern Colorado's 18. EWU also had 11 steals to UNC's four.
 
Eastern was outscored in the paint, 38 to 16.
 
UP NEXT: The Eagles return for three-straight home games on Saturday, starting with the Sacramento State Hornets on Feb. 1 at 2:05 p.m. at Reese Court. On Monday, Feb. 3, Northern Arizona comes to town for a 6:05 p.m. tip.
 
The second half of Big Sky play begins on Feb. 6 with a special 11 a.m. tip for Kid's Day against Montana.