| Rose Hamilton launches a shot under the basket during a regular season game. |
The College of Eastern Utah women’s basketball team entered the Scenic West Athletic Conference championship tournament last week ranked seventh in the conference standings. The team was paired with second ranked Utah Valley State College in the first round of the tournament.
Many questioned the strength of the Eagles as they took to the court against a team which the eastern Utah squad had lost to on two separate occasions this year.
The Eagles remained focused and did not think about games which plagued them earlier in the year. Rather, the CEU team took to the court poised and determined to defeat the Wolverines.
Both teams came out strong and gave little resistance to the other squad.
By the half, the Eagles lead the Wolverines, 38-36. At this point, it was anybody’s ball game and neither team was about to slack off.
As the second half got underway, the Eagles found themselves troubled with shooting woes, just as they have throughout most of the season.
The eastern Utah team shot only 42 percent from the field as the Wolverines shot 65 percent.
Despite the difference in shooting percentage, the Eagles hung on tight and lost by only three points in the first round of the SWAC tourney. The Wolverines had defeated the Eagles, 78-75.
Second year Eagle, Megan Valgardsen lead the team in scoring with 17 points.
Valgardsen has been a key player the past two years for the Eagles adding strength and agility under the basket. She will be missed by the team next year as she moves on after graduating from CEU.
Following in points was Cassie Warburton who finished the game with 13 points, Rose Hamilton with 11 and Janeen Nelson with 10 points.
Hamilton has also been a dominant player for the past two years with the Eagles. She has become the main point guard for the Eagles and has added her own enthusiasm and desire to compete in the sport of basketball.
The loss dropped the Eagles from proceeding into the semifinal round of the SWAC tournament, but the CEU team can’t complain about their season.
The Eagles finished the regular season with a 7-9 SWAC record and a 16-15 overall record.
The Eagles will now enter the off season and coach Dave Paur will begin the difficult task of rebuilding the women’s team for next year.