Eastern Briefs

BASKETBALL

Husky rally tops Eagles

SEATTLE — The three-game winning streak for Eastern Washington’s men’s basketball team ended Dec. 21 at Alaska Airlines Arena at the University of Washington, but not without a battle to the end.

A late cold shooting spell proved costly as the Eagles fell short, losing 66-73 to the Pac-12 Huskies.

Down 23-14 midway through the first half, Eastern (4-7) responded with a furious 17-3 run and took a 1-point lead into the break, 40-39. 

Dane Erikstrup scored 12 of his team-leading 17 points in the opening 20 minutes.

As the Huskies (8-3) ratcheted up their defensive pressure, EWU struggled hitting just 10 of 30 shots down the stretch. But Eastern kept the game close as it was tied at 62 apiece with four minutes left.

In addition to Erikstrup’s 17, forward Ethan Price scored 12, Casey Jones had 10 and redshirt freshman LeJuan Watts finished just one point short of his second career double-double (9 points, 10 rebounds). Jake Kyman, who had 15 points at Cal Poly and 25 each at Air Force and USC, was held to just five.

Eastern starts their conference slate next week as they host Portland State on Dec. 28 and Sacramento State on Dec. 30. The Eagles’ non-conference schedule has ranked as one of the toughest in the entire NCAA.

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Eagles fly past Wolves in dominating victory

LAS VEGAS — Eastern Washington’s women basketball team will head into Big Sky Conference play with momentum earned from a pair of wins at the Vegas Holiday Hoops tournament and victories in four of their past five games.

The Eagles finished their Vegas effort with a 62-43 win over Mountain West Wyoming after opening with a 92-51 victory over Presbyterian College from Clinton, S.C.

Jamie Loera led her team with 16 points while Aaliyah Alexander was the other Eagle in double figures with 14, her 10th such time this season.

The Eagles were up 26-21 at half and 39-34 after the third and closed with a 23-9 fourth-quarter edge where they shot 60 percent from the field.

In the tournament opener Eastern had a double-digit lead after the first quarter and were never in change of losing that edge, leading 54-25 at halftime.

Eastern had three players score in double figures as Alexander scored a game-high 12 points, while Milly Knowles and Loera each scored 10. 

Eastern scored a season-high in points and had a season-high field goal percentage (54.5%).

Heading into conference play on the road at Portland State (Dec. 28) and Sacramento State (Dec. 30), Eastern sits with an 8-3 record. 

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FOOTBALL

More honors for Chism

CHENEY — Eastern Washington wide receiver Efton Chism III picked up his fourth All-America honor of the year and six other Eagle student-athletes earned All-Big Sky Conference recognition with the announcement of Phil Steele’s 2023 FCS Postseason All-American and All-Conference Teams on Monday.

Chism, named Hero Sports, Associate Press and Stats Perform All-American Third Team already this month, was named to Steele’s All-American Fourth Team. He also earned First Team All-Big Sky, joined by teammates Kekoa Visperas (3rd team QB), Nolan Ulm (4th team WR), Blake Gobel (4th team TE), Ben Allen (4th team LB), Marlon Jones Jr. (2nd team DB) and Michael Wortham (2nd team KR).

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