CHENEY, Wash. — The regular season comes to an end for Eastern Washington women's basketball as they played Idaho in Moscow on Monday night. Eastern fell to the Vandals, 75-64, as the team could not hold its second-half lead. EWU finishes the regular season with a 7-11 Big Sky record and 14-17 record overall. Idaho claims the Big Sky regular season title outright, finishing with a 17-1 conference mark and 26-5 overall.
With the result tonight, Eastern will be the No. 6 seed in the Big Sky tournament.
"These were two good teams that battled tonight and the conference champs took control in the fourth to secure the win," head coach Joddie Gleason said. "Ella Gallatin was absolutely amazing tonight and helped propel us into the lead at halftime. Unfortunately, we couldn't keep them off the glass to start the game and then again in the pivotal moments in the fourth. We didn't match their physicality or we had the chance to steal the game in Moscow."
The Eagles had a slight lead at halftime, but Idaho tied the score in the third. The Vandals then asserted themselves in the fourth with their best offensive quarter, outscoring the Eagles by 10 and securing the home win and the conference title.
Ella Gallatin matched her career-best with a game-high 26 points, shooting 9-for-20 (45.0%), along with a 4-for-9(44.4%) mark from three-point range. Kourtney Grossman added to her double-double total, finishing with 15 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.
"Kourtney's double-double was huge tonight against a really good Idaho squad," Gleason added. "We look forward to a much needed rest after three games in five days. We'll regroup and get ready for Boise."
The Eagles and Vandals were trading points in the first quarter, as both teams were aggressive on offense. Eastern took a 9-5 lead on a layup from Ella Gallatin, but Idah scored five-straight points to take the lead. The teams tied at 14 by way of a Kourtney Grossman jumper. After the Vandals led 18-14, EWU closed the quarter with a 5-0 run, highlighted by a three from Emily McElmurry as time expired. In the opening quarter, the Eagles shot 44.4 percent from the floor.
Idaho jumped back in front to begin the second, taking a 25-19 lead less than two minutes into the quarter. Undeterred, Eastern stormed back as Gallatin scored nine-straight points to give EWU a 28-25 lead. The Vandals retook the lead at the four-minute mark, 32-20. The Eagles countered with an 8-0 burst to go back in front. At the half, Eastern led 38-34, shooting 46.7 percent in the quarter.
EWU came out in the third looking to expand its lead. They went up 46-39 at the 6:32 point, getting a long three from Elyn Bowers. The teams went scoreless for the next two-and-a-half minutes. Idaho continued to run its offense and began to chip away at the Eagle lead. They reduced the score to 46-32 with 3:-5 remaining in the quarter. The Vandals then tied the score at 46 with 46 seconds on the clock and the score held until the break. Eastern's shooting struggled in the third, managing only a 15.0 percentage.
Starting in the fourth, the teams were back to trading points, with the lead changing three times in the first two minutes. Idaho managed to build a slim four-point advantage, but EWU kept them in striking distance. As the quarter went on, however, the Vandals did pull away from the Eagles. They went up by 10 with 1:41 remaining in the game and kept Eastern at a distance. Idaho went on to win 75-64.
Eag Notes
- Ella Gallatin posted her 8th 20-point game of the season and has 10 total for her career. It's also her 27th double-digit scoring game this season. Gallatin also led the team with 4 assists.
- Eastern made at least 10 three-point field goals. It was the fifth game this season EWU has made 10+ field goals.
- Kourtney Grossman tallied her 20th double-double of the season. She was in double figures for scoring for the 26th time this season and rebounding for the 23rd time.
- Idaho grabbed 52 rebounds, holding a 7-rebound advantage over Eastern. The Vandals out-scored the Eagles in the paint 42 to 22.
- Elyn Bowers notched her 26th game double-digit scoring game. Bowers had 8 rebounds in the game, 1 shy of her career-best.
- Jaecy Eggers recorded 2+ blocks for the 16th game this year.
- EWU committed 19 turnovers that Idaho turned into 20 points.
Up Next
Eastern Washington will travel next Monday (March 9) to play in the Big Sky Tournament as the No. 6 seed. They play Northern Colorado on Monday (March 9) at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
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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