OGDEN, Utah — The road trip was a success for Eastern Washington women's basketball as the team extended its winning streak on Saturday. Eastern defeated Weber State, 74-54, leading for the majority of the game. The Eagles improve to 11-2 in conference and 21-5 overall. With 21 wins, EWU matches the program record for wins in a single season.
"I'm so proud of getting this tough road sweep. Our offense came alive today in the first half and coupled with our usual lock-down defense. We set the tone for the game and secured the win," head coach Joddie Gleason said. "The team did an exceptional job of focusing up and learning our scout one practice. A focus for the game was to turn our defense into offense and forcing 21 turnovers, resulting in 27 points. They answered that call."
Jamie Loera fueled the win with a 21-point effort, shooting 7-of-12(58.3%) and 3-of-6(50%) from three-point range.
"Jamie was a catalyst at both ends of the court for us again tonight and really propelled us into this win," Gleason added. "We shared the ball well and had multiple people step up to score when we needed it. Looking forward to returning home for next weekend's games, Go Eags!"
Weber had the early edge, leading 5-0 after two minutes over the Eagles. Eastern responded with a 9-2 run that put them up two over the Wildcats at 9-7. EWU added to its lead, growing to 15-11 with 3:33 left in the quarter. Weber did not disappear and closed with the final three points of the quarter. Eastern led 18-16 after the first 10 minutes.
The Eagles started the second quarter strong, building the lead to 23-16 at the 6:56 mark. Following a Wildcat layup, Eastern pulled away using an 11-0 run over a three-plus minute stretch to take control in the game. The team shot 41.2 percent in the quarter, going 4-of-8(50%) from the three-point line. EWU went to the half leading 39-20.
Eastern maintained its advantage in the third quarter, making good use of the free throw line early with four makes. Aaliyah Alexander elevated her shooting, scoring seven points on three made shots. As a team, the Eagles shot an eye-popping 72.7 percent from the floor. They led Weber 61-49 after the third.
The Wildcats chopped down the Eastern lead in the fourth quarter, going on a 13-0 run, reducing the lead to 61-53 at the 5:39 point. Loera stopped the bleeding at the free throw line, making four consecutive attempts and putting the lead back at double-digits. Jaleesa Lawrence connected from three with 3:29 left in the game and the lead was 68-54. The Eagles stayed aggressive and extended their lead down the stretch to win 74-54.
Eag Notes
- Eastern matches the program record for wins in a single season, previously set during the 1983-84 season.
- Jamie Loera recorded her second 20-point game of the season and 18th scoring in double figures. Loera also led the team with a game-high eight assists.
- EWU forced 21 turnovers from the Wildcats, turning them into 27 points. Eastern now has eight games this season forcing 20 or more turnovers.
- Jaleesa Lawrence scored 17 points on 5-of-10(50%) shooting, adding three steals in game. It was Lawrence's 10th game in double figures.
- The teams matched in rebounds with 29 each. The Eagles were led by Milly Knowles' game-high eight rebounds.
- Aaliyah Alexander had 15 points on 6-of-14(42.9%) shooting, her 22nd game scoring in double-digits.
- Alexis Pettis provided the scoring off the bench, finishing with eight points.
Up Next
Eastern Washington returns to Reese Court next week for key matchups against Northern Arizona on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. Pacific Time. and Northern Colorado on Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.
Join the Eagle Athletic Fund for as low as $50 per year! Support Eagle student-athletes on and off the field while enjoying exclusive EAF perks such as season ticket and tailgating priority, invitations to special events, exclusive access and more. Visit goeags.com/eaf for more information.
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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