March 28, 2024

Women’s Basketball

Up next for the Eagles is a home game against CNCC on Feb 16, followed by a game at SLCC later that week. They are 2-0 against both teams. They will be looking for a season sweep in both series. 

The USUE women’s basketball team took on a three-game road trip that started in Rangely Co. and ended with a matchup with nationally ranked College of Southern Idaho, a battle for first place in the conference.

The Lady Eagles started out strong against CNCC, taking the lead 41-29 at half and never looking back, winning 78-61. Brooklyn Palmer led the way with 20 points and five assists. Three other Eagles scored in double figures. Kacelyn Toomer had 13 while Maci Wall and Janel Blazzard each had 10 respectively. Palmer, along with Toomer, led the team in rebounds with eight a piece. 

The Eagles capitalized on great defense, scoring 23 points off turnovers compared to the Spartans’ eight. The bench also came up big in the game, putting up 23 of the team’s 78 points. The Eagles significantly outrebounded the Spartans 44-23.

In game two of the road trip, the Eagles traveled to Ephraim to take on Snow College, who they recently beat at home. After what was a low scoring first quarter, the Eagles had the lead 7-5. They came out firing in the second quarter putting up 20 points while the defense held snow to only 11. Taking a 27-16 lead in the half, the teams played very competitive basketball in the second half. Both teams scored 16 in quarter three and then 21 in the fourth. That led the Eagles to a 64-53 hard fought win over Snow, extending their win streak to five.

Brinlee McRae led the team with 14 points, going 6-9 from the field. Hadley Humphreys stuffed the stat sheet having eight points, seven rebounds and led the team with four assists. Along with Humphreys, three other players had seven rebounds. Once again, the bench could not be stopped, scoring 28 points. The eagles dominated on the glass out rebounding the Badgers 46-30.

The road trip ended in Twin Falls, taking on No. 5 College of Southern Idaho. Going into the game, CSI was one game ahead of USUE in the conference standings. Both teams battled until the end of this double overtime thriller that ultimately ended with CSI coming out on top 86-79.

After the first, CSI got out to a 19-12 lead but USUE fought back taking a 35-34 lead into half. After a back-and-forth second half, seeing multiple lead changes, they ended up tied and took it into overtime. In the first overtime, nobody could separate themselves, both scoring nine points, taking it into a second overtime. CSI started the second overtime hot going on a 10-2 run, which ended up with CSI scoring 13 and winning 86-79

Wall had 22 for USUE followed by 16 from Palmer and McRae. Palmer also led with 14 rebounds while Humphreys had 10.

Up next for the Eagles is a home game against CNCC on Feb 16, followed by a game at SLCC later that week. They are 2-0 against both teams. They will be looking for a season sweep in both series.