| Mindaugas Katelynas prepares to take a shot past a Dixie defender last Saturday evening. The College of Eastern Utah men’s and women’s basketball teams each competed last weekend at home as part of a back-to-back weekend. The teams will return to the BDAC this weekend to host two more Scenic West Athletic Conference games. |
For the College of Eastern Utah’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, this past weekend marked the first set of home games during the regular season. Unfortunately for both teams, the weekend ended in disappointment.
The exciting basketball action kicked off Friday evening as the women hosted the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes. This would prove to be a successful game for the Eagles who took charge of the court and handed the Coyotes a 86-59 loss.
Cassie Warburton lead the team in scoring with 16 points. Warburton also had four steals during the Scenic West Athletic Conference match up.
The Eagles had three players score 11 points against the Nevada team as Rose Hamilton, Lindsey Arnoldus and Janeen Nelson each added their talent to the Eagles victory.
The following evening would end the excitement for the Eagles as they were defeated by the Dixie Rebels, 75-69.
The competition was exciting as the Eagles pressured the Rebels throughout the game.
The eastern Utah team made several big plays in the second half as they bounced back from their 40-22 deficit at the half to pressure the Rebels right down to the final buzzer.
The Eagles shot 77 percent from the field as Kasey Mills lead the team in scoring with 17 points.
Warburton followed in points with 15 and second year Eagle, Megan Valgardsen completed the competition with 11 points as well as seven rebounds.
The Eagles played well in both games, and despite closing out the weekend with a loss, the CEU squad was happy with their performance. After all, the Dixie team is currently ranked 11th in the nation and the Eagles fared quite well against the junior college powerhouse.
The men’s team competed both Friday and Saturday night following the women’s games. For the men, the weekend would conclude in disappointment as the team lost the final night to Dixie College.
Although the team concluded the weekend with a loss, the opening game proved to be quite successful for the Eagles who handed the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes a 66-60 defeat.
The Eagles easily outscored the Coyotes as the eastern Utah team shot 60 percent from the field while the Nevada team only shot 45 percent.
Mindaugas Katelynas lead the team in scoring with 17 points. He was followed by PJ Stinnett who finished with 11 points.
The Eagles returned to their home court Saturday evening as they hosted the Dixie Rebels who are currently ranked 12th in the nation amongst junior college teams.
By the half, the Eagles found themselves down, 38-24. The second half however would find the Eagles fired up as they stepped out and outscored the Rebels, 41-35.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, this was not enough to capture the SWAC victory as the Rebels barely squeaked by the CEU team, 73-65.
Stinnett played strong for the Eagles as he posted 20 points against the Dixie team. GJ Macon also had a successful performance as he scored 16 points in the Eagles exciting game.
Both CEU teams will return to action this weekend as they host a second double header weekend.
Friday night, the women will kick off the basketball action as they host Colorado Northwestern at 6 p.m. The men will follow at 8 p.m.
Saturday evening, the Northern Idaho Cardinals will be in town. The women will compete at 6 p.m. and the men at 8 p.m. to conclude exciting action.