POCATELLO, Idaho – The Eastern Washington University women's basketball team closed the regular season at Idaho State tonight (March 5) with an 86-51 loss. Freshman Maisie Burnham led the Eagles with 18 points.
 
"It was a tough physical battle like we knew it would be, and we didn't respond well. Idaho State is a great basketball team and against those teams, you have to be your best and we weren't tonight," said head coach Wendy Schuller. "We are going to get some rest and regroup and be ready for Monday."
 
Idaho State used a 12-0 run to take a 14-2 advantage early in the first quarter and held the momentum from there to lead 23-12 after one. Junior Grace Kirscher scored seven of EWU's 12 points in the first ten minutes.
 
Eastern Washington hung with the Bengals in the second quarter and were only outscored 20-15 despite ISU shooting 52.9 percent from the field. A 12-4 run helped the Bengals lead 41-20, but EWU used a 7-3 run to close the quarter out. The run was highlighted by a Jenna Dick steal and fast-break layup at the buzzer to end the half, making it a 43-27 game when the teams went into the locker room. Eastern Washington was also steady at the free throw line in the first half, going 10-for-12 at the line compared Idaho State's 2-of-2.
 
Idaho State used the third quarter to pull away from Eastern Washington, outscoring the Eagles 25-9. The Bengals were 11-of-16 from the field (68.8%) and held EWU to just 2-of-9 from the field.
 
The Eagles shot 50 percent (7-14) from the field in the fourth and closed the game on a 9-0 run and were only outscored 18-15 in the final frame. The Bengals were able to make 8-of-13 in the final ten minutes en route to the 86-51 victory.
 
WIN-LOSS RECORDS: With tonight's loss, Eastern Washington ends the regular season with an overall record of 6-16 and a 5-12 mark in Big Sky Conference play. Idaho State, who clinched the 2021 Big Sky Regular Season Championship with tonight's win, improves to 19-3 and 15-2 in conference action.
 
TOP PERFORMANCES: Maisie Burnham led the Eagles with 18 points. She was 4-of-8 from the field, 1-of-1 from three-point range and 9-of-12 from the free throw line. She also dished three assists and recorded two blocks.
 
Kennedy Dickie followed with nine points and led the team with five rebounds and three steals. Nuria Cunill also had five rebounds and Grace Kirscher scored seven points.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE: The Eagles were 16-of-44 from the field (36.4) compared to Idaho State's 38-of-61 (62.3%). Eastern Washington made five three-pointers and were 27.8 percent from deep to Idaho State's 7-of-17.
 
At the free throw line, Eastern Washington made 14 of its 18 attempts while the Bengals were just 3-of-4. EWU was out-rebounded, 32-to-20 and out-scored in the paint 60-to-22.
 
UP NEXT: Eastern Washington now turns its focus to the Big Sky Conference Basketball Championships, beginning on March 8 and running through March 12 in Boise, Idaho at the Idaho Central Arena (formerly CenturyLink Arena). Seeding for the tournament has yet to be finalized as results around the league finish up this evening, but Eastern will play at either 1 p.m., 4 p.m., or 7 p.m., Pacific time in the first round on March 8. Stay tuned to GoEags.com for further information, or visit the Big Sky tournament central page HERE.