CHENEY, Wash. (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge propelled by a blistering shooting display from beyond the arc carried the Eastern Washington Eagles to an 81-61 victory over the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Reese Court.

The Eagles, improving to 14-16 overall, broke open a tight contest by outscoring the Lumberjacks 26-18 in the pivotal third period, turning a nine-point halftime lead into a commanding 17-point advantage entering the final quarter. The foundation of the run was a stark and decisive disparity in three-point shooting that defined the entire contest. Eastern Washington connected on 14 of 27 attempts from long range, a 51.9% clip, while Northern Arizona struggled profoundly, making just 2 of 19 from deep.

Eastern Washington guard Elyn Bowers, a 5-foot-8 sophomore from Pinedale, Wyoming, spearheaded the offensive onslaught, scoring 21 points and hitting five three-pointers. Her backcourt partner, Ella Gallatin of Snohomish, Washington, orchestrated the offense with a game-high seven assists while adding 14 points. Forward Kourtney Grossman, a 6-foot sophomore from Billings, Montana, provided a potent inside-outside threat with 17 points, including three three-pointers, and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Northern Arizona, which fell to 10-20, was led by the standout individual performance of guard Kayla Williams. The 6-foot sophomore from San Diego scored a game-high 24 points, but her efforts were largely isolated. Guard JBionna Robinson added 11 points and four assists for the Lumberjacks.

The game’s most important sequence unfolded in the third quarter, where Eastern Washington’s offensive efficiency overwhelmed Northern Arizona’s defense. After the Lumberjacks closed to within 44-40 early in the period, the Eagles unleashed a decisive 15-4 run over a five-minute span. The run featured a trio of three-pointers—one each from Bowers, Gallatin, and Grossman—and showcased the Eagles’ superior ball movement and shot creation. This burst extended the lead to 59-44 and effectively sealed the outcome, as Northern Arizona could not mount a sustained challenge against the Eagles’ consistent perimeter scoring.

The first half was a more contested affair, though it foreshadowed the shooting trends to come. Eastern Washington led 20-19 after a back-and-forth first quarter, with both teams trading baskets in the paint. The Eagles began to create separation in the second quarter by capitalizing on Northern Arizona’s cold shooting. While the Lumberjacks missed all eight of their three-point attempts in the half, Eastern Washington connected on six, including two from Bowers and one from Emily McElmurry, who finished with 11 points. This allowed the home team to build a 41-32 lead at intermission despite committing more turnovers.

Eastern Washington’s defensive presence at the rim also proved significant, as they blocked seven shots compared to three for Northern Arizona. Jaecy Eggers led that effort with three blocks to go with eight points. The Eagles also took excellent care of the ball in the second half, committing only four turnovers after the break to stifle any hope of a Northern Arizona comeback fueled by transition opportunities.

The Lumberjacks, who entered the game having lost two straight by wide margins, found some success attacking the basket and drawing fouls, making 17 of 21 free throws. However, their inability to generate any consistent perimeter offense—their two three-pointers were both made by Williams—made their half-court offense predictable and allowed the Eagles to pack the defense later in the game.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Eastern Washington over Northern Arizona, having also won 93-87 in Flagstaff on Jan. 29. The game was played before a crowd of 852.

Both teams conclude their regular seasons on Monday. Northern Arizona travels to face Montana State, while Eastern Washington heads to Moscow for a matchup with Idaho.