By Cory McKendrick, USU Eastern Sports Information Contributor:
Price, UT – The Utah State University Eastern women’s basketball team made history in several ways in their final home game from the BDAC this regular season. With the win over Salt Lake Community College, the Eagles were co-regular season champions with the Bruins, both finishing with a record of 9-3 in conference. This the highest finish in the regular season conference in program history.
The win also gave the Eagles their 24th victory of the season. This passes the previous record of 23 wins in a season set by the 2003-2004 Eagles, who were then led by current Head Coach Chelsey Warburton and coached by recent Hall of Fame inductee and current assistant coach Dave Paur. Warburton and her sister, Cassie, led the 03-04 team in scoring, both averaging 13 points per game, with Chelsey also leading the team in steals and 3-point field goals made.
A total team effort would be an understatement for tonight’s win over SLCC. The game started featuring an all sophomore starting lineup. Sophomore night honored the 7 sophomores that Eastern has on their team and they did not disappoint. Harley Carlisle cleaned up the glass for the Eagles with 12 rebounds in the game, 7 of them offensive rebounds. Emmery Wagstaff added 10 points and 7 rebounds. Morgan Toluono contributed a career high 16 points and 7 rebounds including a perfect 7-7 from the free throw line, 4 of which came in the crucial final minute of overtime.
Margarett Otuafi also scored 16 points and had 7 rebounds and fellow freshman Kacelyn Toomer had 11 points 5 rebounds and 3 assists, including a dagger 3-pointer to give the Eagles their first lead since the first quarter during the overtime period. The Eagles came back from being down by 13 points in the beginning of the 4th quarter, to force overtime and eventually ice the victory with some timely shooting in overtime and 7-8 shooting from the line in overtime.
“Tonight was a wonderful win for our program and for our sophomores to end their last regular season on. This team is such a talented group and they have been able to accomplish so much. We are looking forward to the tournament and the excitement it brings” said Coach Warburton post victory.
The Lady Eagles are slated to play the College of Southern Idaho in the first game of the tournament which begins next Friday February 28th. The game will be hosted by CSI and be played in Twin Falls, ID. The tip-off time is TBD at this moment.