Eastern women win streak at six

Getting back to some basics has been the fuel that has propelled the Eastern Washington women’s basketball team back into contention for a Big Sky Conference regular season title.

The Eagles won for the sixth straight time this past week at Reese Court, collecting dominating wins, 88-67 over Southern Utah last Thursday, Feb. 19 and 73-42 over Northern Arizona Saturday.

“We use three simple words to try to define ourselves, tough, smart, unselfish,” head coach Wendy Schuller said. “I think more than anything it was getting back to basics.”

With the sweep Eastern improved to 10-4 in conference play, 17-8 overall. They trail Montana (12-3) by 1 1/2 games going into a weekend meeting with the Grizzlies in Missoula, Saturday in the second game of a two-game road trip that begins tonight at Montana State.

Hayley Hodgins scored 19 points with fellow, senior Melissa Williams at 17 points and 10 rebounds — her third straight double-double — while Lexie Nelson added 14.

After NAU’s Rene Coggins connected on a 3-pointer at the 16:53 mark of the first half to give the Lumberjacks (7-7 Big Sky, 11-14 overall) an early 9-7 lead, a 3-pointer from Nelson ignited a 17-6 run over the next 11 minutes that put the Eagles ahead for good.

Eastern’s defense limited Northern Arizona to just 27.1 percent shooting, including 3 of 14 from 3-point range.

“In the last few games, we’ve really picked it up defensively,” Schuller said. “We’ve been able to get our offense going with some defensive energy.”

The Eagles opened the home-stand racing to an early 23-7 lead on the way to having a 52-34 edge at the half. Eastern led by as many as 19 points in the first half behind 58.3 percent shooting from the field.

Eastern got 19 points from Hayley Hodgins, one of five Eagles in double-figures. Seniors Lexie Nelson added 15 and Melissa Williams 12 points and 10 rebounds for another double-double. Delaney Hodgins also had 12 and Jade Redmon 11. The Eagles shot well at 55 percent from the floor.

The Eagles outrebounded the Thunderbirds, 40-32, had 12 offensive rebounds that turned into 12 second-chance points.

“Our players were just flying around and just working,” Schuller said.

Last week’s work allowed Eastern to clinch a spot in the postseason and this weekend will go a long way in determining if they are hosts for the Big Sky Tournament that takes place March 12-14 at the home of the regular season champion. The Eagles were swept in their Montana trip last season but two years ago were the ones doing the sweeping.

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].