CHENEY, Wash. – The Eastern Washington University women's basketball team played host to Seattle University today (Dec. 19), falling by a score of 77-65.
Kennedy Dickie led the Eagles with 17 points to mark her fourth-straight game in double figures.
Aaliyah Alexander followed with 14, and
Maisie Burnham scored 11 in her first career start as a freshman. Freshman Nuria Cunill also led the Eagles in rebounds (7), blocks (3) and steals (2).
"I didn't see a good enough defensive effort today. We didn't do the things that we're supposed to be doing, and they got way too many points in the paint. It's frustrating, the team is also frustrated with their effort," said head coach
Wendy Schuller. "Seattle U played hard and beat us to balls and played harder than us at times, and you can't have those lapses."
Seattle U used a 9-0 run to pull ahead 12-2 to start the game. The Eagles responded with a 6-0 run of their own to cut the deficit to 15-11, going 3-for-3 from field goal range during the spurt. Another 6-0 run, that included five points from Dickie, helped the Eagles tie the game, 17-17. Seattle U remained in control however, leading 22-19 at the end of the half.
Dickie's 10
th point of the half tied the contest 26-26 in the second quarter, but the Redhawks pulled back ahead with an 8-1 run to lead 34-27.
Kallie Schaplow added a huge spark off of the bench, hitting back-to-back three pointers to help the Eagles trail by just five at the end of the half, 39-34.
The Eagles were only outscored 16-14 in the third quarter, but the Redhawks remained in control. Kirscher worked for a steal and went coast-to-coast for the score to cut the lead to 53-48 with 23 seconds remaining, but a Seattle U basket at the buzzer helped the Redhawks lead 55-48 with a quarter to go.
After the Redhawks built a lead of 64-53, the Eagles were able to trim the deficit to 66-59, but a 7-0 run by Seattle U in the final minutes of play helped secure its victory, 77-65.
WIN-LOSS RECORDS: Eastern Washington falls to 1-5 overall while Seattle U improves to 3-4. This marked the first meeting between the two foes since 2011, with the Redhawks now owning the series record 2-1.
TOP PERFORMANCES: Kennedy Dickie led the Eagles with 17 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Nuria Cunill led the Eagles in rebounds with seven, and also led the way with three blocks and two steals.
A pair of freshmen in
Aaliyah Alexander (14 pts) and
Maisie Burnham (11 pts) rounded out the scoring. Both
Grace Kirscher and
Jenna Dick added eight points. Kirscher also had five rebounds and led the team in assists with four and also had two steals.
KEY STATISTICS: Eastern Washington was held to 37.1 percent (23-62) from the field and they made seven three-pointers. They were 12-for-15 from the free throw line, while the Redhawks were a perfect 16-for-16.
EWU won the turnover battle, 20 to 15, but were out-rebounded 37 to 29. They were also edged in the paint, 36 to 28.
The Redhawks shot 50.9 percent from the field, making 27 of their 53 attempts.
UP NEXT: Eastern Washington wraps up non-conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at Washington State. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. in Pullman, Wash.
MORE FROM COACH SCHULLER:
On Kennedy Dickie's Play of Late: "We need Kennedy to be offensive minded for us, as she's doing a good job of that. I know she would admit that there are some things to shore up with her game, and I have to put her in better spots to be successful, but it's good to get her scoring."
On Adjustments before Facing Washington State on Tuesday: "On Tuesday, I'd like to see us put it all together. I'm seeing glimpses here and there of good things. Offensively, we're really good and times but we're also bad at times. We can't lose quarters the way we're losing quarters."
