POCATELLO, Idaho — Eastern Washington women's basketball started its road trip on Thursday night against Idaho State in Pocatello. Eastern dropped the game to the Bengals, 77-65, as the team struggled with turnovers. EWU falls to 5-7 in the Big Sky and is 12-13 overall, while ISU improves to 10-3 in conference and 17-7 this season.
"Idaho State's pressure defense and quick rotations forced 23 turnovers and they scored 35 points off of them. That was the difference in the game," head coach Joddie Gleason said. "We struggled to handle this really good veteran team on the road."
Turnovers were the major factor in the game, with the Eagles committing 18 more than the Bengals.
The teams went back-and-fourth in the first quarter with three lead changes. ISU jumped ahead late in the first and never surrendered the lead for the rest of the game.
Ella Gallatin led Eastern with 20 points on 7-of-15(46.7%) shooting. Elyn Bowers fired off 17 points and Kourtney Grossman added 15.
"Ella did a nice job of getting downhill and drawing fouls or scoring for us," Gleason added. "She is also the anchor of our defense and helps everyone figure out our orations. We will regroup and get after Weber State on Saturday."
The shots were falling early for Eastern as they opened up a 7-2 lead in the first two minutes as Ella Gallatin provided four early points. ISU responded by taking the lead 8-7 at the 6:30 mark. EWU kept their four-point lead as the first quarter ticked down. However, with Eastern leading by one at 15-14, the Bengals scored the final four points to take an 18-15 lead. The Eagles shot 38.5 percent in the first.
ISU's run continued into the second quarter, and it extended to 10-0 before a Kourtney Grossman-made three. Gallatin hit another three on the team's next possession and the Bengal lead had quickly been reduced to 24-21. ISU then countered with a 7-0 run to go up by double-digits. Elyn Bowers stopped this run with a three and Grossman followed quickly with another three. A late free throw from Gallatin brought the score down to 31-28 at the half, with EWU shooting 26.7 percent.
In the third quarter, the Bengals began to expand their lead over Eastern, building an eight-point advantage at 40-32 and 7:18 on the clock. ISU went up by 10 at 6:43. The Bengals led by as much as 14 in the quarter. EWU found some rhythm on offense with a 7-0 run, getting a three from Caitie Gingras. The Eagles could not cut the lead any more in the quarter and trailed 54-46 after three. Eastern shot 35.7 percent in the third.
Bower scored three-straight points to start the fourth quarter to try and get EWU back in the game. The Bengals quickly pushed the lead back to 10 with 7:15 remaining in the game. ISU cruised for the rest of the fourth, building the lead out to double digits. Bowers did not quit in the quarter, scoring 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting. Despite the effort, ISU went on to win, 77-65.
Eag Notes
- Kourtney Grossman added to her double-double total with her 16th of the season, finishing with 11 rebounds. She scored in double figures for the 21st game this season and had her 19th double-digit rebounding game.
- Eastern and Idaho St. were even in rebounds, with the Bengals scoring 34 points in the paint to the Eagles 22. ISU also had an 11-to-5 advantage in second-chance points.
- Ella Gallatin posted her 5th 20-point game of the season and 7th of her career. It was also her 21st game scoring in double-digits.
- EWU was effective at the free-throw line, going 17-of-19(89.5%). Gallatin and Elyn Bowers each had five made free throws.
- Bowers notched her 22nd game in double figures in 25 games played.
- Eastern shot 38.5 percent from the floor against 44.1 percent from the Bengals.
- The Bengals bench scored 22 points, with the Eagles scoring 4.
Up Next
EWU travels to Ogden, Utah to play Weber State on Saturday (Feb. 14), with tipoff at 1 p.m.
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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