CHENEY, Wash. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by critical turnovers and timely stops, the Idaho Vandals grinded out a 69-63 victory over the Eastern Washington Eagles in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball opener Saturday at Reese Court.

The Vandals, who improved to 10-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play, never trailed after the game’s opening minutes but were forced to withstand multiple second-half charges from the Eagles. Idaho’s defense was the cornerstone of the win, forcing 16 Eastern Washington turnovers and converting them into 18 points, while the Eagles managed only 3 points off Idaho’s 11 giveaways.

The game’s decisive sequence came in the final minute with Idaho clinging to a precarious lead. After Eastern Washington’s Ella Gallatin converted a layup to cut the deficit to 63-61 with 44 seconds remaining, Idaho’s Ana Pinheiro was fouled on the ensuing inbound play. The sophomore from Braga, Portugal, calmly sank the first free throw but missed the second, leaving the Vandals ahead by three.

Eastern Washington, now 7-7 overall and 0-1 in the Big Sky, called a timeout to set up a potential game-tying play. The Eagles worked the ball to leading scorer Elyn Bowers, but her three-point attempt was off the mark. Idaho’ Hope Hassmann secured the critical defensive rebound, was fouled immediately, and iced the game by making both free throws with 4 seconds left to seal the six-point margin.

The contest was characterized by inefficient offense, as both teams shot below 33 percent from the field. Idaho finished 27 of 74 for 36.5 percent, while Eastern Washington was 23 of 71 for 32.4 percent. The Vandals found consistent success inside, outscoring the Eagles 38-28 in the paint, a key factor given the cold shooting from beyond the arc where the teams combined to go 11 of 45.

Idaho established control early with a 21-point first quarter, capitalizing on early Eastern Washington miscues to build a lead it would protect for the remainder of the afternoon. The Eagles struggled mightily in the second quarter, managing only 9 points as their offensive rating plummeted. A strong third-quarter push, led by Bowers and Gallatin, brought Eastern Washington back within striking distance, outscoring Idaho 20-18 in the period to trim the deficit to 55-44 heading to the final quarter.

The Eagles’ comeback bid continued in the fourth, closing to within two points on three separate occasions in the final five minutes. Each time, however, Idaho found an answer, often through Pinheiro or a defensive play. The Vandals’ ability to maintain composure and execute in the half-court during the final possessions proved the difference.

Pinheiro led Idaho with 15 points, while Kyra Gardner added 11 and Hassmann contributed 10 points and a team-high 5 assists. The Vandals also received significant interior contributions from their international post players; Debora Dos Santos of Brazil scored 9 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and blocked 3 shots, and fellow Brazilian Lorena Barbosa also added 9 points.

Eastern Washington was carried by the backcourt duo of Bowers and Gallatin. Bowers, a guard from Pinedale, Wyoming, scored a game-high 20 points in 34 minutes. Gallatin, from Snohomish, Washington, added 14 points. Kourtney Grossman provided 9 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Eagles, who held a 48-45 edge on the boards but could not overcome their ball-handling issues.

The announced attendance at Reese Court was 712. Idaho next travels to face Montana on Thursday, Jan. 8. Eastern Washington will head to Montana State on the same night to continue conference play.