Game Notes

Fresh off of its first home game of the year, the Eastern Washington University women's basketball team won't have to wait long for its first road test of the season. The Eagles hit the road for a pair of games, first taking on Pepperdine in a Sunday afternoon matinee and then playing at Grand Canyon on Tuesday evening.
 
EWU takes on the Waves on Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. Pacific time in Malibu, Calif., at the Firestone Fieldhouse. The game can be streamed HERE with live stats available on EWUStats.com.
 
It's then on to Phoenix, Ariz., for a Nov. 16 game at Grand Canyon with tip-off set for 5 p.m. PT at the GCU Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats on EWUStats.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Eastern Washington hosted San Jose State for the 2021-22 season opener last night (Nov. 11) at Reese Court where they were edged, 77-67.
 
Four Eagles scored in double-figures, led by freshman Jaydia Martin with 23 points. Newcomer Jacinta Buckley turned in a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds, while freshman Alexis Pettis added 11 points. Milly Knowles scored a career-high 10 points.
 
Both teams were under 35 percent from the field. Eastern Washington shot 31.9 percent (22-69) overall and were 6-of-23 from three-point range but 17-of-22 from the free throw line. Nearly half of San Jose State's points came from behind the three-point line as they were 11-of-29 from a distance. The Spartans were also 23-of-66 (34.8%) overall and 20-of-23 from the charity stripe. Eastern Washington won the turnover battle, 10-to-16. They limited San Jose State to just eight points in the paint, all of which came in the second half. The Eagles were out-rebounded 54-to-41.
 
Eastern Washington came as close as eight points in the fourth quarter, saving their best for last by shooting 46.8 percent from the field with four three-pointers and outscoring the Spartans 26-to-21.
 
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES: Eastern Washington heads out on its trip with an 0-1 overall record.
 
Eastern Washington is led by first-year head coach Joddie Gleason, who was hired as the eighth head women's basketball coach in program history on May 21, 2021. The 2021-22 edition of Eagle women's basketball features eight returners and eight newcomers, five of which are true freshmen and three transferred in. Eastern Washington was picked to finish 11^th by the coaches and 10^th by the media in the preseason polls after finishing 6-17 overall and 5-12 in Big Sky Conference play a year ago.
 
UP NEXT: The Eagles wrap up the month of November with two home contests against non-Division I opponents. First, Eastern Washington hosts Evergreen on Sunday, Nov. 21 and then Multnomah nearly a week later on Sunday, Nov. 27. Both games are set for 2 p.m. Pacific time at Reese Court
 
Effective on Monday, Nov. 15, proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within the last 72 hours will be required for Eastern Washington University men's and women's basketball games at Reese Court. All fans ages 12 and older are required to provide proof of vaccination, such as CDC-issued vaccination card (or photo of the card) to enter events at Reese Court. A state immunization registry document is also acceptable proof. If attendees cannot provide proof of vaccination, then they may present proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours. Fans ages 11 and under do not need to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. All fans ages five or older, regardless of vaccination status, must always wear face mask covering while inside Reese Court unless actively eating or drinking.
 
Single-game tickets are on sale at GoEags.com/tickets.
 
A LOOK AT THE WAVES: The Pepperdine Waves play in the West Coast Conference in Malibu, Calif. The Waves are 0-1 this season after a 78-69 loss at UCLA to open the season on Nov. 10.
 
Pepperdine is coached by Kristen Dowling in her third season. The Waves return 11 players from last year's squad that finished 5-18 overall and welcome three freshmen.
 
In Pepperdine's loss at UCLA, the Waves shot 57.7 percent from three-point range, draining 15 from a distance. Ally Stedmen led the Waves with eight of the three-pointers to pour on 28 points. Malia Bambrick (15) and Cheyenne Givens (10) also scored in double figures.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Eastern Washington and Pepperdine have clashed just once on Dec. 1, 2019 at Reese Court. The Waves hit a game-winning three-pointer on a buzzer beater to win, 53-52. The Eagles held Pepperdine to 28.4 percent from the field in the contest. Eastern Washington is 34-62 all-time against West Coast Conference opponents.
 
A LOOK AT THE LOPES: Grand Canyon places in the Western Athletic Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. The Lopes opened up the season with a 95-48 win against Arizona Christian on Nov. 10 to start the season 1-1.
 
Grand Canyon finished 18-7 overall last season with an 8-4 mark in WAC play. The Lopes advanced to the title game at the WAC Tournament, falling 78-60 against Cal Baptist. GCU ranked second in the nation with 13.4 steals per game and were fourth in opponent turnovers per game (23.3). Led by head coach Molly Miller, the Lopes return three starters from last year.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Grand Canyon and Eastern Washington have met just once before in an 84-78 loss at Reese Court last season on Dec. 14.
 
Turnovers troubled the Eagles in the first half of the game, as they committed 18 in the first half that turned in to 22 GCU points. Eastern made halftime adjustments, however, and cut the turnovers down to eight in the second half of play. Eastern Washington out-rebounded the Lopes, 38 to 28. Grand Canyon out-scored Eastern in the paint, 36 to 14, as the Lopes shot 47.3 percent (26-55) from the field. They were also 6-for-16 (37.5%) from behind the arc and 26-for-32 (81.3%) from the charity stripe.EWU shot 44.9 percent on the night, making 22 of 49 field goal attempts. Fourteen of their 22 made attempts were three-pointers, as they shot 41.2 percent from behind the arc. At the free throw line, EWU was 20-for-30.
 
Eastern Washington is 7-3 all-time against WAC opponents.
 
WHAT'S BACK: Eight Eagles return to the roster from last year's squad in freshmen Aaliyah Alexander, Nuria Cunill, and Kallie Schaplow, redshirt-freshmen Gabrielle Jung, redshirt-sophomores Tatiana Reese and Milly Knowles, and junior transfers Britt Van Buren and Megan Fossen.
 
"Milly Knowles, Tatiana Reese and Gabrielle Jung have been here before when we had students on campus. Their leadership has really brought our team together and created a culture that we've wanted," said Gleason.
 
Alexander played in and started 21 games for the Eagles last season, averaging 10.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. She led the team in minutes (32.0) and assists (3.0) per game while ranking second with 1.4 steals per contest. Additionally, she was named Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week after averaging a double-double in two games against Weber State. In her Eagle debut, she led the way with a career-high 18 points, scoring in double figures in 11 games during her freshman campaign.
 
Listed as a redshirt-sophomore on the roster due to the COVID year and a medical redshirt, Knowles is back in her fourth season with the Eagles. Last year, she played in 22 games with 10 starts and averaged 16.7 minutes and 2.0 points per game. Cunill played in all 23 games as a true freshman, making nine starts and leading the team with 0.7 blocks per game.
 
NEW EAGS ON THE BLOCK: The 2021-22 roster is filled with eight new faces who look to make immediate impacts for the Eagles after standout prep careers.
 
Eastern Washington has five true freshmen in Jaleesa Lawrence (Meridian, Idaho / Meridian HS), Jaydia Martin (Vancouver, Wash. / Hudson's Bay HS), Alexis Pettis (Gardena, Calif. / Palisades Charter HS), Devynn Warns (Renton, Wash. / Liberty HS) and Andie Zylak (Spokane, Wash. / Lewis and Clark HS).
 
The Eagles also reloaded with three transfers who will use previous collegiate experience to help guide EWU to new heights. Jordyn Boesel is a graduate student from Okanogan, Wash., where she attended Okanogan High School and went on to play at Saint Mary's for four seasons.
 
"We have some graduate transfers that have come in with a significant amount of college experience. Jacinta Buckley came in from UNLV, and Jordyn Boesel brings toughness and a competitive drive every day. She knows how to practice hard at this level and leads by example," said Gleason. "We got Bria Rice eligible late, and those three bring the experience that we need. With six true freshmen, we're young in that regard, so we wanted to make sure we brought in players who could play and help right away."
Jacinta Buckley is a sophomore from Spokane, Wash., where she prepped at Lewis and Clark High School before two years at UNLV. Bria Rice also joins the Eagles as graduate transfer. She hails from Federal Way, Wash., where she prepped at Todd Beamer High School and has had stints at both Arizona and Long Beach State.
 
WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE: Joddie Gleason was officially hired as the eighth head women's basketball coach in Eastern Washington University history on May 21, 2021 after five seasons at Seattle University as the associate head women's basketball coach. Prior to that, she stood at the helm of the Humboldt State women's program for 12 years and was the program's all-time winningest coach (201-137) upon her departure.
 
Not only did Gleason have to hit the recruiting trail once she got on campus, she had to hire a brand-new staff as well. Gleason started with her husband, Skip Gleason, who is EWU's associate head coach. The duo has coached together for 14 years, beginning at Humboldt State and during their time with the Redhawks.
 
"A crucial part to any program is what kind of staff you can bring in, and we are so fortunate to have the staff that we have," said Gleason. "Skip and I have done this together for a long time. He's going to be our recruiting coordinator. We know what we are good at and what we can bring, and we knew exactly what we needed to fill to fill holes. We have all meshed together as a staff very well, and we're excited."
 
The Eagles also welcome assistant coaches Jordan Loera and Brandon Morrison. Loera played collegiately at the University of Oregon, graduating in 2016. Most recently, Loera was the graduate assistant coach at Big Sky foe Southern Utah where she received her Master's degree.
 
"I was able to bring in Jordan Loera who is a great young coach. Since she was at Southern Utah, she helps us with the Big Sky component, and she's a local product too from Moses Lake and is well-connected with club coaches and local people in the area. She brings energy, is a worker, and has a great personality for the players who have built great relationships with her," added Gleason.
 
Morrison has served in several roles at UNLV since 2011, helping coach the 2017 and 2019 Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He was also an advanced scout for the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks.
 
"Brandon Morrison was previously at UNLV and has done a lot of scouting and digital work with the LA Sparks. He brings energy every day, no matter what's going on, and he's always ready to work with a smile. He works great with the players on the court as well as his experience," continued Gleason.
 
THE 2021-22 CAMPAIGN: Eastern Washington will play 29 regular season games this season, including 16 at home at Reese Court.
 
The non-conference portion of the schedule consists of nine games, including exciting home matchups against Mountain West Conference members San Jose State and Boise State, along with West Coast Conference member Gonzaga. Eastern Washington then plays every Big Sky Conference opponent twice, splitting between home and the road.
 
"Home or away, we have our conference opener circle on the calendar," said Gleason, who's squad opens Big Sky play on Dec. 2 at Southern Utah. "Our preseason schedule will prepare us very well for Big Sky competition, so starting on the road at Southern Utah will be fun for us and coach Jordan Loera. I know it will be a big game for our team and we will be ready."
 
The Big Sky Conference Tournament is slated for March 7-10 in Boise, Idaho.
To view the complete schedule, click HERE.