CHENEY, Wash. – The Eastern Washington University women's basketball team played host to local foe Idaho this evening (Feb. 4) at Reese Court in Big Sky Conference action. The Eagles trailed 25-9 after the first quarter, and had to play catch up from there. Even though EWU edged the Vandals in scoring in the final three quarters of play, they fell 79-69.
 
"Coming in to the game, we knew that Idaho is a talented basketball team. I think that their veterans did a good job early on establishing the tempo and the physicality of the game and we did not respond in the first quarter very well," said head coach Wendy Schuller. "It's hard when you give away a quarter of basketball. We have to play four quarters - we have to mature and get ourselves to a place where we're ready to play."
 
Idaho used runs of 11-0 and 9-0, respectively, to lead 25-9 after the first quarter.
 
Eastern Washington came out and made five of its first seven field goal attempts of the second quarter. They would end up outscoring the Vandals 15-12 in the frame thanks to six points from Aaliyah Alexander. EWU also shot 50 percent (7-of-14) from the field and held Idaho to 25 percent, but still trailed 37-24 entering the half.
 
The Eagles used a 6-0 run to open the second half and cut the deficit to 37-30, but the Vandals continued to pull away and built a 50-37 lead. A 3-for-3 field goal spurt would put the Eagles back within 10 points, 54-44. Despite edging the Vandals in third quarter points, 20-19, and shooting 50 percent from the floor once again, Eastern trailed 56-44 entering the fourth quarter.
 
Alexander used a 5-0 run of her own as the Eagles made 5-of-7 from field goal range to cut their deficit to 63-54 with five minutes to play in the game. Eastern Washington kept chipping away as Grace Kirscher took a look at a contested three and made it, making it a 65-61 game with under four minutes remaining.
 
Idaho responded with an 8-0 run and the advantage moved to 73-61. Kirscher snapped the run and Alexander completed a three-point play with less than a minute to play to keep the Eagles in the game, but the Vandals came away with the 79-69 victory.
 
WIN-LOSS RECORDS: Eastern Washington falls to 6-10 on the season and 5-6 in Big Sky Conference play while Idaho improves to 10-5 and 9-2.
 
TOP PERFORMANCES: Junior Grace Kirscher led the way with 24 points on 10-of-17 from the field and three three-pointers. Eighteen of her points were scored in the second half.
 
Aaliyah Alexander also reached double digits with 16 points, just two shy of a career-high. She was 7-of-12 from the field with four rebounds and two assists.
 
Maisie Burnham scored in double figures for the 11^th-straight game, adding 10 points. She also had five rebounds. Kennedy Dickie led the team in rebounding with seven while Nuria Cunill grabbed six.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: Despite trailing 25-9 at the end of the first quarter, Eastern Washington outscored the Vandals in every quarter the rest of the way.
 
The Eagles were 28-of-63 from the field compared to Idaho's 26-of-57. At the free throw line, EWU was just 7-of-9 to U of I's 21-of-26. Both teams made six three-pointers.
 
Eastern was out-rebounded 38 to 30 and edged in the paint 40 to 36.
 
UP NEXT: Eastern Washington and Idaho meet again on Saturday, Feb. 6, but this time in Moscow, Idaho. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. Pacific time on Pluto TV Ch. 1060.