CHENEY, Wash. – The Vandal women's basketball team fell to Eastern Washington, 62-52 on Saturday afternoon at Reese Court. Sarah Schmitt led the court with a season-high 16 points on the day, going 4-4 from free throw.
Hopes were high in the first quarter as the Vandals went basket for basket with the Eagles. Last time out, the Vandals only scored eight points in the first 10 minutes but this time they were only down one, 14-15. Asha Phillips got things going for Idaho with the first points off a layup. Idaho took an early lead 8-7 until Eastern Washington responded with a three-pointer. Skylar Bea checked onto the court and scored immediate points under pressure under the rim to keep the score close. Eastern Washington scored six points from three-point range while the Vandals attempted four with no luck.
The Vandals took off in the second quarter, going on a 7-0 run to lead 22-15. The seven-point lead would be the last lead of the game for Idaho. The run was contributed by Eastern Washington's inability to get quality shots off. The Vandals let the Eagles back into the game, going three minutes without points. Eastern climbed back, and then some to regain the lead off a 6-0 run. Before halftime expired, Bea recorded her first career three-pointer and reached a new career-high of seven points.
The Vandals were more efficient than the Eagles from the field and the free throw line, but lacked in three-pointers which had a high impact on the score. Idaho shot 42.9% (12-28) from the field, 22.2% (2-9) from three and 2-2 from the charity stripe while EWU shot 42.3% (11-26) from the field, 37.5% (3-8) from three, and 87.5% (7-8) from the free throw line. Four Vandals recorded three rebounds apiece in Bea, Kennedy Johnson, and Phillips as the team out-rebounded the Eagles 16-14. Johnson led Idaho with nine points.
Eastern Washington came out of the locker room with a new focus of creating a larger distance from Idaho. The Vandals fought to keep the score within five digits as Phillips recorded four points (2-2 FT, 1-1 FG) but the Eagles had an answer for everything. Idaho went on another score drought for over three minutes leading to a 7-0 run for the Eagles and a 10-point lead. The drought ended with a 2-2 performance for Sarah Schmitt at the free throw line making the score, 45-37. Schmitt went on to attempt a long-range three at the buzzer, but the shot was just wide, hitting the rim and bouncing off.
Down 12 at the start of the final quarter, Idaho fought to cut the deficit with a three-pointer from Sarah Brans, her second of the day. The Vandals were given ample opportunities to score, possessing the ball for over a minute through missed three-point attempts and offensive rebounds. The long possession resulted in a layup from Johnson to bring the game back within single digits. Eastern went scoreless for over two minutes, but the Vandals did not capitalize as they lost steam in the final minutes. Idaho had no luck as their shots rolled around the rim and refused to fall in. The Vandal energy faltered, and Eastern walked away with the win.
Idaho finishes 0-2 against Eastern in regular conference play but had a considerably more successful game today than the first. The Vandals out-rebounded the Eagles 34-31 led by Phillips and Johnson with eight each. Idaho finished perfect from the charity stripe, going 8-8, but were imperfect with 13 turnovers on the day. Overall, Idaho shot 36.4% (20-55) from the field and 22.2% (4-18) from three while Eastern Washington shot 40% (22-55), 35.7% (5-14) from three, and 92.9% (13-14) from the free throw line.
The Vandals head to Weber State and Idaho State next weekend with hopes of getting back into the win column.
