Ashli Payne helps Eastern Washington women edge Southern Utah

Ashli Payne led four in double figures with 19 points and Eastern Washington (10-8, 5-2) edged Southern Utah (5-13, 0-7) 67-66 in Big Sky action on Saturday in Cedar City, Utah.

Eastern led by nine entering the fourth quarter, but Southern Utah chipped away at its deficit. The Thunderbird pulled to with two with 57 seconds left on a pair of free throws by Jessica Richardson, but Tisha Phillips made a pair with 20 seconds left to restore a four-point margin.

Jamie Smith drilled a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to make it a one-point game again. After an Eastern turnover, Smith had a chance at the win but her 15-foot baseline jumper failed.

Payne grabbed 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the campaign and 11th in her career. Delaney Hodgins scored 13 points with a career-high nine assists for Eastern, while Phillips and Symone Starks added 10 points apiece.

Richardson paced SUU with 21 points and Whitney Johnson had 19.

Eastern hosts Montana on Thursday at 6 p.m.