The Eagles played Idaho State on March 6 and lost to the Bengals, 86-62. “We just weren’t able to adjust in that game,” junior forward Melissa Williams said. “We were just overthinking everything.”

Idaho State jumped out to an early start with a 4-0 run. Senior guard Aubrey Ashenfelter and junior forward Melissa Williams each scored to tie the game, 4-4.

Idaho State fought back by going on an 8-2 run to lead by six points. Williams converted two free throws to stop the Idaho State run. Senior center Laura Hughes and redshirt junior guard Lexie Nelson each scored to give the Eagles the lead.

It soon became a back and forth affair when the Bengals answered back to lead by three points. Redshirt sophomore Hayley Hodgins and freshman guard Bethany Montgomery would help the Eagles regain their lead 18-17 with 9:13 left in the first half.

Idaho State continued to stay aggressive by going on a 6-0 run to lead by three points. Ashenfelter scored a jump shot to cut the Bengals’ lead to one. Eastern scored seven straight points to lead, 31-28. Idaho State got into the game to tie the score 31-31 heading into the halftime break.

Idaho State stayed aggressive in the beginning of the second half, and the Bengals opened up a six point lead. Hughes scored a jump shot and Nelson scored a 3-pointer to cut Idaho State’s lead to one point. With every answer the Eagles gave, Idaho State would stay aggressive and keep fighting back.

The Bengals went on an 8-4 run to increase their lead to eight points. Nelson scored a jump shot to stop Idaho State’s run. Idaho State scored two 3-pointers and two jump shots to give themselves a large lead, 62-47 at the 8:44 mark.

Idaho State would stay at a high shooting percentage to increase their lead to 19 with 7:01 left in the game. At the five minute mark, the Bengals increased their lead to 22 points. Nelson finally scored a 3-pointer to help the Eagles end their poor shooting percentage. Eastern would not be able to catch up, and Idaho State finished the game with a 24-point victory.

“We just didn’t follow our scout very well,” freshman guard Jade Redmon said. “We didn’t really come out with much energy.”

The Eagles will compete against Idaho State again on March 13 in the Big Sky tournament.

“That element of revenge is great,” Williams said. “We’ve just been working on defense mostly. We know what they want to do and so we’re just working on just getting mentally prepared for it.”

Williams had a career high of 23 points, and Hodgins contributed with 13 points and three 3-pointers. Ashenfelter chipped in with five points and a season high of four steals. Montgomery finished with six points.

The Eagles competed against Weber State on the road where they beat the Wildcats, 68-60 on March 8.

“I think we were more patient in our shot selection,” Williams said. “We were just more collected and [we] just knew what we were trying to do.”

The beginning four minutes of the game had three lead changes and one tie. At the 16:26 mark Eastern went on a 11-0 run to lead throughout the entire first half. Weber State cut the Eagles lead to one point with 4:56 on the clock. The Eagles would stay aggressive by going another run to lead 34-28 heading to halftime.

In the second half Eastern increased their lead to 14 points to get win No. 16. Nelson finished with 20 points and Hodgins contributed with 13 points. Williams had 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Ashenfelter contributed with 11 points and nine rebounds and Hughes finished with eight points.

“I think we just came out and competed more, we had more energy and [we] took care of business,” Redmon said.

Eastern finishes fourth in the Big Sky Standings and they will compete against fifth-seed Idaho State in the Big Sky tournament on March 13 in Grand Forks, North Dakota.