Box Score

Dec. 31, 2003

SPOKANE, Wash. - Junior Shannon Mathews scored a game-high 23 points, but was unable to net the crucial three-point shot to put the game into overtime, as the Eastern Washington University women's basketball team defeated Gonzaga University, 72-69, in Spokane Arena on Wednesday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (6-6) were led by Mathews' season-high 23 points and five assists, while Ashley Anderson chipped in 13 and Ashley Burke netted 12. Burke led the team in rebounds with seven along with Raeanna Jewell. The loss ended the four-game win streak for Gonzaga.

The Eagles (6-5) featured Kathleen Nygaard with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Stephanie Ulmer also put in 18 for the Eastern Washington effort with five three-pointers. Brandie Bounds notched 10 points and Joanna Chadd led with seven assists.

The Bulldogs went ahead early, but the Eagles caught up to tie the score at seven (17:06). However, a three-pointer by Stephanie Ulmer put Eastern Washington over the top to capture the lead until halftime. Despite the Eagles holding as much as a 10-point lead over Gonzaga with 4:02 remaining, the score at half was 38-all with the help of Mathews' three-pointer with 0:03 on the clock.

Eastern Washington shot 5-for-6 from beyond the arc (83.3 per cent), while Gonzaga struggled with 3-for-10, all scored by Mathews. The Eagles shot 50 per cent (13-for-26) during the first half, while the Bulldogs went only 35 per cent (14-for-40).

Gonzaga shot the quick jumper to take a two-point lead, but that was the only lead the Bulldogs would see in the second half. Eastern Washington held an 11-point advantage over Gonzaga with only 2:50 remaining. The Bulldogs chipped away at the margin with the help of four-straight missed free throws by the Eagles, bringing the game within one with only five seconds on the clock.

Chadd scored two free throws for Eastern Washington for a three-point lead with less than three seconds. Mathews made the last two baskets for Gonzaga, but hit iron on her three-pointer in an effort to push the game into overtime periods.

The Bulldogs shot only 39.1 per cent (27-69) for the game with four three-pointers. The Eagles were consistent with 50 per cent from the field both halves and eight three-pointers.

Gonzaga returns back to The Kennel for another doubleheader with the men's basketball team on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 1 p.m. against University of Montana.