Women split CO games

With only a few regular season games left, the Eagles traveled to Colorado trying to string together enough wins to keep their post season hopes alive competing against Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado, and Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado, last weekend.

The Eagles dominated from the opening tip against the Grizzlies of Adams State when they acquired the lead and never relinquished it, winning 78-57.

Alternatively, the Eagles struggled in the beginning of the game against the Skyhawks of Fort Lewis College, losing 78-51.

“Getting the split was important for our tournament chances, but we took a tough loss that we need to rebound from,” Keeley Pearce, freshman of Adelaide, Australia, said. “We are very excited for these two weeks at home.”

Offensively against the Grizzlies, the Eagles shot 51.8 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from the 3-point line and saw four players in double figures.

Maka Daysh, sophomore of Tauranga, New Zealand, led all Eagle scorers with 20 points on 7 of 10 from the field and 6 of 13 from the free-throw line. Emma Block, senior of Copenhagen, Denmark, scored 17 points; Kayla Mathews, sophomore of Adelaide, Australia, scored 14 points; and Maddie Metzger, junior of Georgetown, Texas, also chipped in 12 points. The four Eagles combined to score 63 of the team’s total 78 points and took 36 of the team’s total 56 shots.

The Eagles collected 20 assists on 29 baskets. Senior of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Stephanie Knowles, led all players with 10 assists.

The Eagles also played effective defense against the Grizzlies, limiting them to 37.5 percent from the field and 21.4 percent from the 3-point line. The Eagles didn’t allow the Grizzlies any 3-pointers in the second half. Daysh led the Eagles in rebounding with 10, which gave her another double-double this season. Erin Graham, junior of Deland, Florida, was the second leading rebounder with seven. The Eagles won the rebound battle, 45-29, and only gave the Grizzlies eight offensive rebounds.

Knowles led the team in blocks with four of the team’s total five. The other Eagle player to record a block was Daysh. Knowles also led the Eagles in steals with four, while Daysh and Pearce collected two each. With the Eagles good defense and hot shooting, they managed to pull away early and never looked back cruising to the end of the game.

In the second game of the weekend, the Eagles faced off against the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks with hopes of keeping their previous night’s good shooting and winning streak alive.

The Eagles struggled in the beginning of the game only scoring four points in the first quarter and 17 total first-half points. They couldn’t keep their good shooting percentages going, shooting 25.9 percent from the field and a disappointing 0 percent from the 3-point line. Mathews managed to collect 11 total points on 1 of 4 from the field and 9 of 12 from the free-throw line, which was enough for her to lead the Eagles team in scoring.

Daysh managed to chip in 10 points on 2 of 7 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line. The Eagles only managed to dish out five assists on 14 baskets, while the Skyhawks managed to pass 10 assists on 26 baskets. Graham and Allegria Chisom, senior of Wichita, Kansas, handed out two assists apiece to lead the Eagles, and Keren Boyce, sophomore of Arad, Israel, collected the other assist.

The Eagles were also stagnant on defense, allowing the Skyhawks to score 78 points on 36.2 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from the 3-point line. The Eagles also lost the rebound battle, 55-37, and allowed the Skyhawks 21 offensive rebounds while the Eagles only collected 11. Daysh led the Eagles in rebounding, collecting eight, and Pearce was second-leading rebounder with seven, the duo combined for 15 out of the team’s 37 total rebounds. Block and Chisom collected one block apiece to give team two total blocks. Graham managed to collect three steals and Knowles collected two. The duo combined for five of the team’s seven steals. The Eagles just couldn’t find a recipe to stop the Skyhawks from scoring.

The Eagles will play in the Chicoine Events Center against Colorado Christian University, Lakewood, Friday and Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Saturday with both games beginning at 5:30 p.m.