CHENEY, Wash. (Interstat) — The Eastern Washington Eagles used a strong fourth quarter to defeat the Weber State Wildcats 73-58 in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game Thursday at Reese Court. Jaecy Eggers led all scorers with 20 points for Eastern Washington, which improved to 9-8. Ella Gallatin added 18 points. The Eagles closed the game on a 15-3 run after the Wildcats tied the score at 58 with just over seven minutes remaining. Antoniette Emma-Nnopu paced Weber State with 12 points and six assists. Lanae Billy added 15 points. The Wildcats fell to 6-10 despite forcing 19 turnovers and making 10 steals. Eastern Washington held a decisive 12-3 advantage in offensive rebounds, leading to more scoring opportunities. Attendance was 579.

CHENEY, Wash. (Interstat) — The Eastern Washington Eagles used a dominant performance in the paint and a standout night from Jaecy Eggers to pull away from the Weber State Wildcats for a 73-58 victory in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Reese Court. The Eagles improved to 9-8 overall, while the Wildcats fell to 6-10. Eastern Washington established control early and never trailed, leveraging a significant rebounding advantage and efficient scoring from its forwards to build a lead that Weber State could not overcome. The Eagles outrebounded the Wildcats 45-30, with a decisive 12-3 edge on the offensive glass that led to 19 second-chance points. Eastern Washington also outscored Weber State 34-24 in the paint. The most critical stretch of the game came late in the second quarter, turning a competitive contest into a more comfortable margin for the home team. Leading 32-28 with under three minutes to play in the half, Eastern Washington closed the quarter on an 8-0 run. The surge was fueled by an Ella Gallatin three-pointer, a layup from Kourtney Grossman after an offensive rebound, and capped by a Gallatin block on Paris Lauro at the rim as time expired. That sequence sent the Eagles into halftime with a 36-27 advantage, a lead they would not relinquish. Weber State, which has now lost four straight conference games, struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm. The Wildcats shot just 36.8% from the field and were hampered by 15 turnovers, which Eastern Washington converted into 19 points. While the Wildcats showed defensive activity with 10 steals and six blocks, they could not counter the Eagles’ interior presence. Eggers, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Woodinville, Washington, was the game’s most impactful player. She finished with a game-high 20 points, adding three assists and four blocks in 32 minutes. Her defensive presence at the rim altered numerous Weber State attempts and was a key factor in limiting the Wildcats’ efficiency inside. Gallatin, a 5-10 guard from Snohomish, Washington, provided crucial support with 18 points, including three three-pointers, and a game-high nine rebounds. Grossman, a 6-0 forward from Billings, Montana, filled the stat sheet with 14 points, three assists, and eight rebounds, six of which came on the offensive end. Guard Elyn Bowers added 10 points for the Eagles. Weber State was led by the backcourt duo of Antoniette Emma-Nnopu and Lanae Billy. Emma-Nnopu, a 5-11 guard from Geelong, Australia, posted 12 points and a game-high six assists. Billy contributed 15 points. Paris Lauro came off the bench to score 13 points, all in the first half, but was held scoreless after the break. Eastern Washington opened the game with a 17-14 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 36-27 by halftime. The Eagles maintained a steady pace in the third, outscoring the Wildcats 18-14 to carry a 54-41 lead into the final period. Weber State could get no closer than 11 points in the fourth quarter as Eastern Washington answered every Wildcats basket. The Eagles’ offensive rating of 92.9 points per 100 possessions significantly outpaced Weber State’s mark of 76.7, underscoring the efficiency gap on the night. Eastern Washington also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 12 of 18 attempts compared to Weber State’s 8-of-14 shooting. The announced attendance at Reese Court was 579. Eastern Washington, which entered the game as a heavy favorite according to advanced metrics, will look to build on the win when it hosts Idaho State on Saturday. Weber State, continuing a difficult road stretch, travels to face Idaho on Saturday.

Preview: Weber State Wildcats at Eastern Washington Eagles CHENEY, Wash. (Interstat) — The Eastern Washington Eagles look to build on a key road win and climb above .500 when they host the struggling Weber State Wildcats in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball matchup Thursday night at Reese Court. Eastern Washington (8-8 overall) is coming off a 65-58 victory at Montana last Saturday, a result that snapped a three-game skid. The Eagles have shown resilience, with four of their eight losses decided by single digits, including an overtime defeat at Montana State. Weber State (6-9) aims to halt a four-game losing streak, all in conference play. The Wildcats’ most recent outing was a narrow 69-66 home loss to Northern Colorado. During their slide, they have averaged just 55.3 points per game. The matchup features two of the league’s top performers. Eastern Washington is led by guard Ella Gallatin, who is averaging 16.0 points per game. She scored 20 points in the win at Montana and has been a consistent offensive force, reaching double figures in scoring in 14 of 16 games this season. For Weber State, forward Antoniette Emma-Nnopu has been a bright spot. She is coming off a 22-point performance against Northern Colorado and nearly posted a triple-double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in a win over Omaha last month. Her versatility will be crucial for the Wildcats’ chances. The Eagles have found success at home this season, going 5-2 in Cheney. Weber State has struggled on the road, with a 1-6 record away from Ogden. Historically, the series has been competitive. This game is the first of two scheduled meetings between the teams this season, with the rematch set for Feb. 14 in Utah. Following this contest, Eastern Washington will host Idaho State on Saturday. Weber State continues its road trip at Idaho on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. PST Thursday at Reese Court on the campus of Eastern Washington University.