Sophomores On Target For Eastern

Youth is showing some signs of experience on the Eastern Washington women’s basketball team.

Three weeks into the season, the Big Sky Conference’s eagle eyes belong to Eastern sophomores Shana Ray and Tanya Kirk.

Ray, a 5-foot-9 guard from Lynnwood, Wash., leads the conference in field-goal percentage, converting 56.3 percent (27 of 48) of her attempts.

Ray and Kirk, a Central Valley High graduate who played junior college ball at North Idaho College, are tied for second in the conference in scoring average (17.3).

“Both of them have stepped up, especially in the first two games,” Eagles coach Heidi VanDerveer said.

In the second game of the season, a 83-69 victory over Gonzaga, Ray scored a game-high 29 points, hitting 12 of 20 shots. Kirk contributed a double-double (24 points, 15 rebounds).

That helped EWU to a 2-0 start, but after last week’s trip to Cal State Fullerton and San Diego the Eagles are 2-2.

“It was our first road trip with a young team,” VanDerveer said. “We didn’t play real well. We all struggled.”

Eastern also played without its only senior, 5-7 guard Jennifer Sutter. Sutter, who sprained her ankle in practice, is questionable for Friday’s 7 p.m. game at Idaho (3-4).

The Eagles lead the series 3-1 during the tenure of VanDerveer, who is in her third season.

Cougars to exhibit skills

WSU follows Tuesday night’s game against Idaho with a Friday night exhibition game against an AAU team, the Portland Saints, at 8.

“It gives us the chance to play two games before final exams,” explained WSU coach Harold Rhodes about the scheduling of the exhibition game. “I didn’t want to go 17 days without a game.”

Stat sheet stuffers

WSU’s Yvonne Kunze was nominated for Pac-10 player of the week. In the Dial Classic last weekend, the 6-4 senior center played 60 minutes in two games and had 42 points and 17 rebounds to grab the MVP award. Teammate Jade Hyett leads the conference in steals per game (6.3) and assists per game (6.5). … Sandpoint High 1996 graduate Alli Nieman is off to a great start with the Vandals. Nieman was named MVP in both the Saint Mary’s and Vandal tourneys. She’s averaging 15.5 points per game (fourth-best) in the Big West. Stacy Clinesmith, a 1996 Mead High grad, also is off to a terrific start, averaging 13.8 points per game and shooting .513 (fourth best in the Big West) for UC Santa Barbara. … St. George’s 1995 grad Cara Longinotti is the starting point guard for Whitman. Against Whitworth last Saturday, the ex-Dragon scored six points. St. George’s is still close to her heart - and her calf. That’s where she has a tattoo of a dragon.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: UPCOMING GAMES Friday Washington State vs. Portland Saints (exhibition), 8 p.m. Eastern at Idaho, 7 p.m.

Saturday Gonzaga vs. Oregon, 5:15 p.m. Whitworth vs. Concordia at Whitworth Invitational, 6 p.m.

Sunday Idaho vs. Pepperdine, 2 p.m. Whitworth at Whitworth Invitational, consolation final at 2 p.m. or championship 4 p.m.

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