Eastern Women Fall 79-77 To Providence

Missed opportunities saddled the Eastern Washington women with a 79-77 basketball loss to Providence Monday on the final day of the Gooding’s Holiday Tournament in Orlando, Fla.

Rachel Ferguson’s turn-around hook with 2 seconds left hit the back of the rim and carried into the hands of Providence’s Tavia Horton as time expired and the Friars (5-5) handed the Eagles (3-6) their second loss in three games in Orlando.

Jennifer Sutter’s reverse layin with 1:51 remaining capped a 7-3 EWU run that cut Providence’s lead to 79-77. Following that basket, the Eagles had three other opportunities to either tie or take the lead, but couldn’t convert.

The second half was see-saw, with EWU falling behind by as much as seven, but leading on five occassions.

Julie Wheeler was 7 of 11 from behind the 3-point line in compiling a game-high 25 points for the Friars. It was her two free throws with 2:39 to play that produced a 79-75 lead. But Sutter’s layup provided the only points for EWU in the final 2:50.

Ferguson, the Big Sky player of the week, paced the Eagles with 22 points and nine rebounds. Tanya Kirk scored 16 while Kelly Bartleson chipped in 15 points and five assists.

Eastern’s next game is Thursday at Reese Court against Northern Arizona at 7 p.m. in a Big Sky opener.

Providence 79, E. Washington 77

Providence (3-6) - Chatten 5-13 7-10 17, Hinds 4-6 3-4 12, Malcolm 6-12 3-6 15, Saunders 0-2 0-1 0, Wheeler 7-13 4-4 25, Horton 1-7 0-2 3, Davis 1-2 0-0 3, Sullivan 0-0 0-0 0, Simonelli 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 26-58 17-27 79.

Eastern Washington (5-5) - Kirk 5-17 3-4 16, Sloan 2-3 0-0 4, Ferguson 9-16 4-6 22, Sutter 1-3 0-1 2, Ford 3-8 2-3 10, Schmick 1-3 2-4 4, Carlson 0-0 0-0 0, Bartleson 4-10 4-6 15, Olson 1-1 0-0 2, Moore 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 27-63 15-24 77.

Halftime - EWU 39, Providence 37. 3-point goals - Providence 10-22 (Chatten 0-2, Hinds 1-1, Saunders 0-1, Wheeler 7-11, Horton 1-5, Davis 1-2), EWU 8-25 (Kirk 3-12, Sutter 0-1, Ford 2-3, Bartleson 3-8, Moore 0-1). Total fouls - Providence 21, EWU 22. Fouled out - Hinds, Simonelli, Sloan. Technicals - None. Rebounds - Providence 38 (Chatten 10), EWU 42 (Ferguson 9). Assists - Providence 18 (Horton 7), EWU 17 (Sutter, Bartleson 5).

Men’s basketball

Whitworth will have to wait a week for its next home game. The Pirates’ game against Western Montana, scheduled for tonight in the Whitworth Fieldhouse, has been postponed until Jan. 7 at 7 p.m.

The Pirates will next be in action Friday at George Fox in a doubleheader with the women’s teams from the schools.

Hockey

Fans who had hoped to follow the Spokane Chiefs to Tri-City tonight to ring in the New Year should make alternate plans if they don’t have tickets.

Officials of the Americans announced Monday that tonight’s Western Hockey League game in the Tri-City Coliseum has been sold out.

, DataTimes