FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Eastern Washington University women's basketball team narrowly missed another double-digit comeback today (Feb. 22) at Northern Arizona. The Eagles trailed by 16 heading into the fourth, but fell to the Lumberjacks by a final score of 63-58.
 
Bella Cravens scored a career-high 28 points, 18 of which came during the fourth quarter alone. Her tied for the most points scored by an Eagle this season (Jenna Dick, 28 vs. Sacramento State on Feb. 1) and she also earned her fifth double-double of the season with 10 rebounds in just 20 minutes of action.

"That was a tough loss. I was really proud of our efforts, this isn't an easy place to play especially on the second game of the road swing. I think our shooting percentage reflected that, especially from three-point range where we were uncharacteristically 2-19," said head coach Wendy Schuller. "But overall, that was a big game from Bella. It would be good if we could keep her on the floor a little longer, but that was a tremendous effort especially in the last five minutes when I knew we were dog tired. We're looking forward to getting home, getting some rest and getting ready for next weekend."
 
In a low-scoring first quarter, the Eagles held Northern Arizona scoreless for 4:16 to lead 12-6 at the end of the first 10 minutes.
 
Northern Arizona found momentum in the second quarter, using a 15-2 run to pull ahead 21-16. After Grace Kirscher made a layup to snap the run, the Lumberjacks scored six unanswered points to extend the lead to 27-18. Jessica McDowell-White made the first three-pointer for either team with 24 seconds left, as the Eagles trailed NAU 27-21 at the half.
 
The Eagles were outscored 22-12 in the third quarter and trailed 49-33 going into the final period.
 
In the fourth quarter, Eastern Washington outscored Northern Arizona, 25-14. Trailing 60-46, Cravens found her groove. She exploded for 10-straight points and brought the Eagles back within six, 60-54, with 32 seconds remaining. With two seconds left, Cravens would score again to cut a 16-point deficit at the beginning of the fourth quarter down to five. Despite holding Northern Arizona without a field goal for the final 4:19 of play, the comeback fell short in Flagstaff and the Eagles fell 63-58.
 
WIN-LOSS RECORDS: With the loss, Eastern Washington drops to 4-21 on the season and 3-13 in Big Sky Conference play. Second-place Northern Arizona improves to 15-11 and 12-5.
 
The Eagles were swept by Northern Arizona for the first time in seven years. Both losses this season were decided by less than 10 points, as EWU dropped a 70-62 contest in Cheney back on Feb. 3.
 
TOP PERFORMANCES: Bella Cravens led all scorers with a career-high 28 points on 10-for-12 shooting from the field and 8-for-14 from the free throw line. It was the first 20-plus point performance of her career. She also collected 10 rebounds for the sixth double-double of her career and the fifth of the season. The sophomore, who has now scored in double figures in six-straight games, also added two assists.
 
Jessica McDowell-White was the other Eagle in double figures with 10 points. She made the only two three-pointers by the Eagles, and was 4-for-9 from the field. She also collected two assists and led the way with two steals.
 
KEY STATISTICS: Eastern Washington shot 40 percent from the field (22-55) and were held to a season low 2-19 (10.5%) from behind the arc. They shot 60 percent from the charity stripe, making 12 of their 20 attempts.
 
The Eagles held Northern Arizona to just 34.8 (23-66) percent from the field, 5-17 (29.4%) from three-point range and 12-for-18 from the free throw line.
 
Northern Arizona out-rebounded the Eagles 48-to-35, but EWU only committed nine turnovers while forcing 13. Each team turned the turnovers into nine points, and the Eagles had the edge in the paint, 36 to 30.
 
UP NEXT: Eastern Washington's final homestand of the 2019-20 season takes place next week. After hosting Southern Utah on Feb. 27, the Eagles will honor lone senior Leya DePriest for Senior Day against Northern Colorado on Feb. 29 at 12:05 p.m.