CHENEY, Wash. (Interstat) — Eastern Washington used a dominant third quarter to pull away from Portland State for an 87-78 women’s basketball victory Saturday at Reese Court. The Eagles outscored the Vikings 26-18 in the period to secure the Big Sky Conference win. Kourtney Grossman powered Eastern Washington with 24 points and 16 rebounds. Ella Gallatin added 25 points and 10 assists for the Eagles, who improved to 13-15 overall. Portland State, which fell to 6-21, was led by Cici Ellington’s 23 points. The announced attendance was 570.

CHENEY, Wash. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive third-quarter surge, the Eastern Washington Eagles used a dominant performance from Kourtney Grossman to pull away from the Portland State Vikings for an 87-78 victory in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Reese Court. The Eagles, who led by just three points at halftime, outscored the Vikings 26-18 in the pivotal third period to build a double-digit cushion they would not relinquish. The win improved Eastern Washington to 13-15 overall, while Portland State fell to 6-21. Grossman, a 6-foot sophomore from Billings, Montana, was the catalyst, recording a double-double with 24 points and 16 rebounds. She was instrumental in the third-quarter run, scoring seven points during the frame as the Eagles turned a 41-38 halftime edge into a 67-56 lead entering the final quarter. Her presence on the glass, which included five offensive rebounds, helped Eastern Washington to an 11-5 advantage in second-chance opportunities. She was complemented superbly by point guard Ella Gallatin, who orchestrated the offense with a double-double of her own, scoring 25 points and dishing out 10 assists. The Snohomish, Washington, native also added five rebounds and two blocks, consistently finding seams in the Portland State defense. The Vikings, despite the loss, showcased resilience and were led by a dynamic scoring effort from Cici Ellington. The Portland native poured in 23 points on 11-of-19 shooting, repeatedly attacking the rim. Hannah Chicken added 17 points and nine rebounds, while Kyleigh Brown contributed 16 points. Portland State hung tough through a back-and-forth first half. After Eastern Washington established an early lead behind Gallatin’s playmaking, the Vikings answered with a 9-0 run late in the first quarter, capped by an Ellington layup, to take a brief 14-13 advantage. The Eagles closed the quarter strong, however, with an 8-0 spurt to lead 21-14. The second quarter saw the Vikings chip away, primarily through the interior work of Chicken and Ellington. A three-pointer from Laynee Torres-Kahapea with just over six minutes left in the half gave Portland State a 31-29 lead, but Eastern Washington responded with a 7-0 run to regain control and take a slim lead into the break. The game’s defining stretch came immediately after halftime. Sparked by their defense, which generated three quick turnovers, the Eagles opened the third quarter on a 13-4 run. A three-pointer from Gallatin at the 8:55 mark pushed the lead to 52-42, forcing a Portland State timeout. The Vikings never got closer than seven points the rest of the way, as Eastern Washington’s offensive efficiency, which finished at 114.4 points per 100 possessions, proved too much to overcome. Eastern Washington’s ability to capitalize on mistakes was a key difference, scoring 16 points off 10 Portland State turnovers, while the Vikings managed 12 points off eight Eagles turnovers. The Eagles also shot more effectively from distance, connecting on 11 of 28 three-point attempts compared to Portland State’s 8 of 23. For Portland State, the loss extends a difficult season, though the performance of Ellington and Chicken provided bright spots. The Vikings will look to regroup when they host Montana State on Thursday. Eastern Washington, meanwhile, builds momentum as it heads into the final stretch of conference play. The Eagles will travel to face Northern Colorado on Thursday, aiming to climb above .500 in the league standings.

Preview: Portland State Visits Eastern Washington in Big Sky Women’s Basketball Clash CHENEY, Wash. (Interstat) — The Eastern Washington Eagles will look to complete a regular-season sweep and improve their positioning in the Big Sky Conference standings when they host the Portland State Vikings on Saturday at Reese Court. The Eagles (12-15, 4-8 Big Sky) enter the matchup having lost four of their last five, including a 69-60 home defeat to Sacramento State on Thursday. Despite the recent skid, they defeated the Vikings (6-19, 2-10) decisively, 81-63, in Portland just last month. Eastern Washington will lean on forward Kourtney Grossman, who is coming off a 20-point, eight-rebound performance against Sacramento State. Over her last seven games, Grossman has averaged 15.1 points and 8.3 rebounds, including a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double in a win at Northern Arizona on Jan. 29. Portland State has lost seven consecutive games since its last victory, a 64-62 decision over Sacramento State on Feb. 7. In their most recent outing, a 71-57 loss to Northern Colorado on Feb. 14, guard Kyleigh Brown led the team with 14 points and five rebounds. Brown has been a consistent offensive bright spot for the struggling Vikings. She has scored in double figures in seven straight games, averaging 16.3 points per contest over that stretch. She poured in a team-high 23 points in a loss to Idaho on Jan. 24. The Eagles’ earlier win over Portland State this season was fueled by balanced scoring and a strong defensive effort, holding the Vikings to 36.2% shooting from the field. Replicating that formula will be key as they seek to halt their recent slide and build momentum for the final stretch of conference play. For Portland State, breaking its losing streak will require finding secondary scoring options to support Brown and improving a defense that allows a conference-worst 75.2 points per game. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon. Following this game, Eastern Washington travels to face Northern Colorado on Thursday, while Portland State returns home to host Montana State.