Lady Eags need one win to be crowned

The chance to clinch the BSC regular season title is on hold for EWU women’s basketball.

The Eagles split last weekend’s road trip against Weber State and Idaho State, leaving the chance to win the regular season conference title to this Saturday’s game against Portland State in the season finale.

EWU took on WSU Friday in Ogden, Utah, where the Eagles took care of the Wildcats, winning 70-56.

WSU opened the game with a 7-0 run. But EWU captured the lead at 16-15 with eight minutes left in the first half and never looked back.

EWU led by as many as 17 points in the second half before running away with the game.

Chene Cooper was a huge factor of the night, tallying 23 points, three assists and four steals. Julie Piper dominated with 15 points and eight rebounds, and Kyla Evans added 10 points for the Eagles.

Agaisnt ISU, the Eagles lacked fire power, shooting only 40 percent in the first half. They fell to the Bengals, 71-63, and lost a chance to  be the outright BSC champions.

EWU was in a hole early when the Bengals took a 14-3 lead before the Eagles turned it on. A 3-pointer by Tatjana Sparavalo tied the game at 19-19 before the Eagles took a four-point lead into halftime.

The Eagles lost their edge in the second half as their lead slipped away, and ISU took over the game. ISU shot 67 percent in the second half, helping the Bengals seal the win against the Eagles.

Cooper scored 19 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the field. Sparavalo added nine points for the Eagles. Brianne Ryan, Piper and Evans each scored eight points in the loss.
Sacramento State advanced to second place behind the Eagles after defeating both Northern Arizona University and the University of Nothern Colorado. They now own a 9-5 record with two games remaining.

EWU holds its fate in their own hands as it comes down to Saturday’s game at Reese Court. If Sacramento State wins both of their games and the Eagles lose theirs, then the two teams will be tied for first and crowned co-champions.  If this happens, then the host for the conference tournament will be up in the air.

The Eagles (18-10, 11-4) take on PSU at Reese Court for senior day. Game time is to start early at 2:05 p.m. PSU beat EWU 67-60 the last time the teams met in Portland, ending Eastern’s seven-game winning streak Jan. 30.