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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

EWU women lose Big Sky semifinal in OT

Eastern Washington University logo. (The Spokesman-Review)
Colter Nuanez Special to The Spokesman-Review
MISSOULA – Wendy Schuller’s team battled to the bitter end, but D’Shara Strange and the Northern Colorado Bears were too much to overcome. Strange scored 27 points and nabbed five steals, including three thefts in overtime as UNC advanced to the championship of the Big Sky Conference women’s basketball tournament with a 70-64 win over Eastern Washington. “That was a war out there between two teams that I think have a lot of respect for each other and that you could really see it,” Schuller, EWU’s 12th-year head coach, said. “As the game was getting into overtime, kids were knocking each other down and picking each other back up. “We’ve won a lot of games just because we play so hard and we are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes. Life, limb, face – whatever it comes down to. We just didn’t have enough today.” Eastern trailed 55-46 with 3 minutes, 36 seconds to play in regulation. The Eagles went on an 11-2 run to force extra time spurred on by Carrie Ojeda’s tough play. The senior center scored six of EWU’s final eight points, including a jumper with 17 seconds left to tie the action at 57. She also took a key charge with 33 seconds remaining in regulation to set up the game-tying bucket. “Carrie was a warrior for us today and she has been all year,” Schuller said. “They didn’t have anyone who could play in the paint with her. She was a beast, in beast mode.” UNC hit just one field goal in overtime — senior forward Lauren Oosdyke took a steal and converted it into a three-point play to begin the extra period — but the Bears sealed the win by hitting 11 of 15 free throws in extra time. Strange hit 7 of 8 from the line in the final 2:09. “We didn’t want the game to be that long, but our kids really persevered,” UNC head coach Jamie White said after her team won for the 20th time this winter. “I thought the overtime was ours from the get-go.” Ojeda, a 6-foot-1 senior from Tacoma, finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds. “It hurts,” Ojeda said. “But I wouldn’t have wanted to finish it with any other team. I love my teammates so much and they play so hard, even for me. It’s bittersweet, but we went down fighting.”