CHENEY, Wash. — For the first time in Eastern Washington women's basketball history, the team has an eight-game winning streak. Eastern defeated Weber State today, 56-38, to set the program record. The game was also Kids Day with EWU hosting over 2000 local area elementary and middle school kids.
With the win, the Eagles improve to 4-0 in the Big Sky and 14-3 overall.
"It was an overall team effort. Defensively, we continued to lock teams down and holding Weber to 38 [point] is huge. I think our average going into conference games was 45 points allowed," head coach Joddie Gleason said. "Showing up defensively, even if some people might be missing at the offensive end, a lot of times that affects people's defense. But not with these guys; they just continue to work. We were trying to make [Weber State] feel uncomfortable and figure out the tendency of their players. Our players do a really nice job of recognizing and knowing the personnel of the opposing team. Our goal was to force turnovers as much as we could and use those to get out and run."
Jamie Loera scored eight points in the first quarter and finished with a game-high 17 on 7-of-16(43.8%) shooting - 3-of-7(42.9%) from three-point range. Jaydia Martin scored 15 points on 5-of-13(38.5%) shooting.
"The depth that we have on our team to be able to step up when maybe our top scorers aren't hitting their shots in the moment," Loera explained. "For me, I just wanted to be aggressive, which is what I told myself moving forward as the season continues and conference play starts. Stepping up and knocking down shots and my teammates having the confidence in me really builds my own confidence as well. I love playing defense, it's so fun. Going off what coach Joddie said, we are able to continue playing defense, even if the offense end isn't going their way. I like that it's all controllable. You can work hard and see what you have to adjust in the next possession. I think we do that well. We're good at having help side, getting our slam down and getting hands in the passing lanes. I really enjoy it and our team does well talking to each other too."
Opening the game, the teams battled for possession and kept the score close. Weber St. went in front 8-5 with 4:09 on the clock. Loera answered with a quick three to tie the game up. The Eagles forced a pair of turnovers from the Wildcats and turned them into fast break points. Closing the quarter, Loera connected with a pull-up jumper and EWU led 14-10, shooting 33.3 percent as a team.
Weber St. came out aggressive in the second quarter, ripping off a 5-0 run to take the lead in less than two minutes. A three from Jaleesa Lawrence put the Eagles back in front. The teams went scoreless for the next three minutes. The drought was finally broken by two free throws from Jacinta Buckley. Lawrence hit another three late in the quarter and pushed EWU's lead to 26-19 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Eastern began to pull away from the WIldcats, turning turnovers into points. Loera and Aaliyah Alexander both earned a steal and found each other for the score at the other end. Martin found a groove in the third, scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds as well. After three, EWU led 47-28, carrying a 56.3 shooting percentage.
The Eagles kept the defensive pressure up in the fourth quarter, holding Weber St. to 27.3 shooting. Eastern also forced three turnovers in the quarter. Martin scored five points to keep EWU at pace with the Wildcats. The team kept its lead and won the game 56-38, shooting 36.1 percent for the game.
Additional quotes on the winning streak
Joddie Gleason
"Last week we were at seven and about to break it, which isn't something we look at as a team or as a staff. It's something that just happens if you do all the things right. By right, I mean work hard every single day, come in and focus on the details and continue to grow as a team. We like to talk about being 1-0 and then those 1-0 stack up and eventually it turns into a pretty nice season. We are going game-by-game and while that sounds cliche, that's exactly what we try to do. We don't look at the next opponent until the current game is over and then that's our focus. But that's huge. It's just a tribute to these players and our staff, how hard they work and how much they bought into what we want to do. They are a special team and I'm so excited to have this journey with them."
Jamie Loera
"It's so fun to be a part of it and experience it. I tell myself everyday just how grateful I am to be on a team that really shows up for each other. Also having a coaching staff that I can have strong relationships with and trust in them to show up and give their best everyday too. I think our team does well like [Joddie] said, taking it day by day, possession by possession, practice by practice whatever it is. We are good at staying in the moment and not letting external things bug us. This team does well having fun, enjoying the game and playing with each other."
Eag Notes
- Eastern Washington forced 24 turnovers from Weber State, the sixth game this season with 20 or more forced turnovers. The team scored 29 points off the Wildcats' mistakes.
- Eastern surpassed the program record of seven consecutive wins today. The program has five, seven-game winning streaks in its history.
- Jaydia Martin matched her season-high in points, scoring 15 or more points for the second time in three games.
- Weber St. out-rebounded the Eagles, 37 to 32. EWU won its fourth game when being out-rebounded.
- Jacinta Buckley led the team with nine rebounds, while Martin and Jamie Loera each had seven. Loera led the team with five assists.
- Eastern has now held its opponents under 40 points in four games this season.
Up Next
Eastern Washington plays its second game of the week on Saturday (Jan. 20) against Idaho State at 2 p.m. Pacific Time.
Season tickets for EWU men's and women's basketball are now available and start as low as $100! Tickets for basketball and all EWU Athletics events are available at goeags.com/tickets or via the EWU Athletics Ticket Office at 509-359-6059.
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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