USU Eastern Snaps Losing Streak against CNCC

The Utah State Eastern women’s basketball team defeated the Colorado Northwest Lady Spartans 83-51 on Thursday in Rangley. 
USU Eastern snapped a two-game losing streak without one of their key players, Kaitlin Toluono, who is sidelined with an injury. 
Eagles Head Coach Chelsey Warburton said after the game that she was happy with the players who filled in for Toluono. 
“They did very well, Autumn (Kay) and Sidney (Springer) played more minutes for us. Kaitlin is a big rebounder for us and as a team were going to have to match that while she isn’t playing,” Warburton said.
Thursday’s game was somewhat close throughout the first half with the Eagles taking a 42-29 lead at halftime.
With an 18-point lead in the third quarter, sophomore guard Harlee Willoughby came off the bench to help the Eagles finish the quarter on a 11-3 run to help put the game out of reach for CNCC.
That spark by Willoughby and company is exactly what the Eagles needed said Warburton.
Willoughby finished the game with 7 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
According to Willoughby, the Eagles had a better second half because of the adjustments they made at halftime.
“We really played good and came out better in the second half because we had more energy and better passes,” she said.
USU Eastern would finish out the game outscoring the Lady Spartans 21-15 in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles got great minutes from freshman guard Morgan Hall, who scored all 8 of her points.
Hall joined the team late in the preseason after being a member of the USU Eastern soccer team. Warburton said that Hall’s development has been big and she will be needed down the stretch of the season.
“She has come a long way. Defensively she is a big guard and does well. She will be a key bench player in our next games,” said Warburton
Freshman forward Alyssa Crumley led the Eagles in scoring with 17 points while also grabbing five boards.
Springer and Kay finished the night with a combined 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals as they filled in for Toluono.
Overall, Warburton was happy with her team’s performance, especially with their goals of having better communication and less turnovers.
“We need to communicate better as a team, either offensively or defensively, and we did that. And we wanted 10 or less turnovers, which we ended up with 10,” Warburton said.
The Eagles will next host Salt Lake Community College on Saturday at 3 p.m. inside the BDAC.
They previously lost to Salt Lake on January 6 by a score of 62-56 in a hard-fought game.