Eagles have 20 wins, Big Sky title in sight
The Eastern Washington women have a lot to play for in the next two weeks, including a 20-win season and a shot at the Big Sky Conference title.
All the more reason, Eagle coach Wendy Schuller says, for the players to focus on their own game. Do that, she reasons, and the rest will take care of itself.
“We really want to be playing basketball these last few weeks,” said Schuller, whose team is 18-9 overall and tied for second in the Big Sky at 12-3.
“More than anything, the focus this week is on ourselves,” Schuller said.
First up is Saturday’s home game against Idaho. With three regular-season games left, Eastern and Idaho (20-7 overall, 12-3 Big Sky) sit a half-game back of league-leading Montana State.
The winner will have the inside track to a top-two seed at the upcoming Big Sky Tournament as well as some momentum heading into the final road trip next week at Idaho State and Weber State.
Even as senior guard Hayley Hodgins became the leading scorer in school history last weekend, the Eagles have dropped two of their last four games – at North Dakota on Feb. 11 and on Thursday against hot-shooting Sacramento State.
“The hardest part is that in both games, we had opportunities late. A bounce here and a bounce there – we need to find a way to make those plays,” Schuller said.
Meanwhile, Idaho has won 10 of its last 12 since a loss at EWU last month. The Vandals are averaging 75 points per game. Idaho is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the Big Sky, averaging 10.5 makes per game on 36.1 percent shooting.
Gonzaga shoots for improvement
The “pretournament tournament,” Gonzaga senior Shaniqua Nilles calls the next two games.
The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season this week at home against San Diego and BYU, which means an opportunity to make a statement going into next week’s West Coast Conference tournament in Las Vegas.
“We have to bring our ‘A’ game for sure,” Nilles said. “If we can knock them on their butts, that would send a message.”
The Bulldogs (17-11 overall and 9-7 in the WCC) are certain to finish anywhere from fourth to sixth, meaning they’ll open the tournament on March 3 – possibly against the same San Diego team they face on Thursday at the McCarthey Center.
Both teams are in a funk: GU has lost seven of its last 11 and the Toreros (21-6 overall, 11-5 WCC) have dropped four of five. The Bulldogs are coming off road losses to Saint Mary’s and Pacific – “two very different games,” coach Lisa Fortier said.
The most disappointing was the 66-47 defeat at Saint Mary’s a game that lacked some intensity, according to leading scorer Jill Barta.
“We didn’t play with a lot of heart,” Barta said.
That won’t be a problem on Saturday, as the Bulldogs will celebrate Senior Day against first-place BYU.
Nilles, one of of four GU seniors, said she’s caught herself thinking about the moment. “At home, in the car … I’ve been a part of some really great teams here at Gonzaga and I’ve been able to play with some great players and coaches.”
Idaho’s Forde honored
Idaho senior post Ali Forde is the Big Sky Player of the Week for her efforts in Idaho’s 2-0 homestand last week.
Forde closed out her final homestand as a Vandal in dominant fashion against Portland State and Sacramento State, averaging 20 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks per game.
Forde recorded her 19th career double-double, finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Portland State. Forde played 23 minutes in the win, shooting 58.3 percent (7 for 12), while also adding a career-high five steals to her tally.
Cougars hope to build on win
Heading into the final homestand of the year, Washington State hopes to use last weekend’s dramatic win at Arizona to build toward the postseason.
After Mariah Cooks’ free throw completed a last-second three-point play to give the Cougars a 62-61 win over the Wildcats, coach June Daugherty said, “We’ve been in so many last-possession games and not been able to bring it home. Each game the team has learned from it.”
The Cougars (13-14 overall, 4-12 in the Pac-12) host Colorado on Thursday. On Saturday against Utah, WSU will honor seniors Cooks, Dawnyella Awa, Alexas Williamson and Taylor Edmondson.
Whits’ McConnell first-team all-NWC
Whitworth senior KC McConnell has been named to the 2015-16 All-Northwest Conference squad in women’s basketball as a first-team honoree.
In addition, senior Faith Emerson received honorable mention consideration for the 2015-16 All-NWC team.
McConnell, a senior from Clarkston, is a first-team selection for the second straight season. She was also a Second Team honoree as a sophomore in 2013-14 and received honorable mention consideration as a freshman.
McConnell is only the third women’s basketball player in Whitworth history to surpass 1,500 career points and she now has 1,581 in her career heading into the NWC tournament. She recently passed Toni Swanson (1,496 points) to move into third place on the Pirates’ all-time scoring list.