CHENEY, Wash. — Finals are over but the season continues for Eastern Washington's basketball teams. The men have a regional rivalry matchup against Washington State at Numerica Veterans Arena on Wednesday night for the inaugural 509 Classic. The team then travels to play another tough non-conference game against Utah on Saturday. Women's basketball has two games this week against California programs as its non-conference schedule winds down
Men's Basketball - vs Washington State (Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 7:00 PM), at Utah (Saturday, Dec. 20 at 4:00 PM PST.) - Get Tickets
The Eagles are coming off a hard-fought 88–83 loss to California Baptist, marking their first home defeat of the season, and now turn their attention to a demanding stretch on the schedule. Eastern will host Washington State in the 509 Classic on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m., before heading to Salt Lake City, Utah, to face the Utes on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 4 p.m. (PST). The two matchups provide opportunities for the Eagles to respond against quality competition as they continue to build momentum in nonconference play.
Despite the setback, Eastern has received consistent production from several key contributors. Isaiah Moses continues to be one of the Big Sky's most reliable scorers, leading the conference in free-throw percentage at 90 percent while ranking second in scoring at 19 points per game. Kiree Huie has anchored the interior defense, tied for second in the league in blocked shots at 1.1 per game with 11 on the season, while also providing a strong presence on the glass. Straton Rogers has been active on the offensive boards, ranking fifth in the Big Sky with 25 offensive rebounds, averaging 2.5 per contest.
Against California Baptist, Moses led all scorers with 23 points, recording his fourth 20-plus-point performance of the year. Huie and Alton Hamilton IV each chipped in 18 points, with Hamilton matching his career high. Huie added six rebounds and three blocks, while Moses also contributed five assists as Eastern showed balance on the offensive end.
The Eagles opened the game with energy and an early lead, but California Baptist responded with improved defensive pressure and gradually seized control. Rebounding proved to be the difference, as the Lancers held a 37–24 advantage on the glass, including 15 offensive rebounds that led to critical second-chance points. California Baptist also shot efficiently, connecting on 54 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free-throw line. Eastern forced 15 turnovers and made several pushes in the second half, trimming the deficit late, but the Lancers controlled the boards and knocked down key shots down the stretch to secure the win.
Eastern now looks to regroup and carry lessons from the loss into the upcoming contests, with an emphasis on rebounding, defensive consistency, and finishing possessions as the Eagles prepare for Washington State and Utah.
Women's Basketball - at Santa Barbara (Thursday, Dec. 18 at 6 pm PT), at CSU Bakersfield (Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2 pm PT)
Eastern Washington has a pair of road games in California this week, starting against Santa Barbara on Thursday night followed by a matchup against CSU Bakersfield on Saturday afternoon. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Eagles are riding a three-game winning streak following a 71-69 win over Washington State last Wednesday. EWU jumped on the Cougars early and led by double-digits for the majority of the first half. The Cougars erased the deficit in the third quarter to take a slim lead. In the fourth, the teams went back-and-forth, but neither had any separation in the first five minutes of the quarter.
Jaecy Eggers carried the team down the stretch, scoring 10 points in the quarter. Eggers was responsible for eight-straight points that gave Eastern a 71-66 lead with 2:31 remaining. The Eagles' defense held WSU to three points in the final two minutes and secured the road victory. It was EWU's first win against the Cougars since 2015. Three Eagles scored in double figures, led by
Ella Gallatin's 22, while
Elyn Bowers had 20 and Eggers added 18.
During Eastern's three-game win streak, the team has been improving both offensively and defensively. EWU is averaging 68.0 points per game, while shooting 40.6 percent from the floor. The team is allowing opponents 65.7 points per game and a 35.5 shooting percentage.
Kourtney Grossman continues to be on a heater for rebounding, racking up another 20 against Washington St. She has 58 rebounds in the last three games. In the Big Sky, Grossman leads the conference with 11.8 per game with 118 total this season. A two-way force, Grossman is third on the team and 18th in the conference with 12.5 points per game.
Eggers has developed into another two-way player for Eastern, averaging 14.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The Woodinville, Wash. native is tied for the team lead and ninth in the conference in scoring, while being second in rebounding on the Eagles and 10th in the Big Sky. Eggers earned her first career Big Sky Player of the Week award last week after averaging 25.0 points in two games.
Bowers shares the team lead in scoring with 14.0 points per game. Early in her Eastern career, Bowers has scored in double figures in 8-of-10 games. She is seventh in the Big Sky with a 42.7 shooting percentage, while ranking 12th with 1.5 made threes a game.
Women's basketball season tickets are now on sale! Claim your seats at Reese Court for the 2025-26 season by visiting goeags.com/tickets to purchase online.
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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