By Elohino Theodore
Four Eagles score in double figures
Eastern Washington went up against Sacramento State on Jan. 18 where they beat the Hornets, 78-65.
From the opening minutes of the first half, EWU would start off slow. Senior guard Aubrey Ashenfelter scored a layup to increase the Eagles’ lead to four points. However, Sacramento State answered back with a 13-4 run that went on for seven minutes.
The Eagles finally answered back with a jump shot from junior forward Melissa Williams. The Hornets kept the aggression with a lead of 20-14 and 7:42 remaining in the first half. Eastern also responded with 3:58 left on the clock by going on an 8-2 run to tie the score.
Sacramento State went to the foul line to lead by five points. Eastern’s freshman guard Jade Redmon tied the score again with a layup, and the Hornets fought back with a jump shot and a free throw to lead by three points with 1:19 remaining in the first half. Senior center Laura Hughes went to the free throw line and made two foul shots to cut the Hornets’ lead to one point heading into halftime.
The Eagles looked like a different team after the break heading into the second half. “We did everything we needed to do to win the game. And we executed our game plan to the tee. We made some adjustments at halftime,” Sophomore guard Hayley Hodgins said.
Beginning the second half, EWU went on a 10-0 run to lead by six points, however, Sacramento State answered with nine points cutting Eastern’s lead to one point. Eastern could not be stopped, they went on another run to lead by 11 points with 12 minutes left in the second half.
Williams would increase EWU’s lead to 14 with a jump shot, Sacramento State yet again cut Eastern’s lead this time to five points. Eastern would answer back with a layup from Hughes to increase the Eagles’ lead to nine points.
At the 1:45 mark in the second half, Sacramento State cut Eastern’s lead to five points for the second time. However, Eastern would make eight free throw shots to earn the win against Sacramento State.
Junior guard Lexie Nelson thought the team was ready to play from the beginning. “I felt like we were prepared, obviously we didn’t play perfect, we did have some let downs. But, overall we got the win so it was good. We still have stuff to improve on, we’re definitely not satisfied,” Nelson said.
Nelson and Hughes both finished with 19 points. Hodgins contributed with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Williams finished with 10 points and four rebounds. Ashenfelter chipped in with six points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals, while Redmon added in six points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Eastern will play on the road against Southern Utah on Jan. 25.
