CHENEY, Wash. – The Gonzaga women's basketball team earned its first road win of the season Sunday afternoon as the Zags defeated Eastern Washington 63-51 at Reese Court.
 
"The fourth-quarter defense was I think the deciding factor," Head women's basketball coach Lisa Fortier said. "I know there were a couple steals that led to baskets. We calmed down a bit; we were so rattled….Ultimately it was our fourth-quarter defense that allowed us to get that separation."
 
The Bulldogs finished with three players in double-figures, led by Chandler Smith with 20. Laura Stockton and Jill Townsend added 13 and 10, respectively. Townsend added 10 boards to complete the double-double while Zykera Rice also hauled in a game-high tying 10 rebounds.
 
Gonzaga (2-0) shot 33.8 percent from the floor to Eastern Washington's (0-1) 29.8 percent, and the Zags converted at the line sinking 16-of-21 attempts for the game.
 
Cold shooting plagued the Bulldogs in the first half as the Zags shot 28.6 percent for the first 20 minutes. Facing an eight-point deficit (15-7) with 7:13 to go, Smith netted a baseline jumper to spark a 12-4 run over the next 3:52 to tie the game 19-all. Gonzaga outscored Eastern Washington 8-4 to close the period to claim the 27-23 halftime advantage.
 
The Zags opened the second half with a layup from LeeAnne Wirth to extend their lead to six points (29-23), but the Eagles outscored the Bulldogs 19-18 in the third to cut the lead to three, 45-42.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Zags outscored the Eagles 18-9 and forced three turnovers in the last 3:40 to seal the 63-51 win.
 
Eastern was led by Violet Kapri Morrow with 18 points off 5-of-14 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds while Jessica McDowell-White added 12.
 
Gonzaga returns home Tuesday, Nov. 13 to host Idaho State at 6 p.m. in McCarthey Athletic Center.