The Utah State Eastern women’s basketball team defeated the College of Southern Idaho 93-90 in overtime on Saturday.
After missing two games due to injury, sophomore forward Kaitlin Toluono returned to action and helped the Eagles come back to win the game.
Down by 5 points after halftime, Toluono led the Eagles in the third quarter with 10 points, five rebounds.
“Kaitlin had a big-time game for us. It is great to have her back in the line-up, she played confident,” USU Eastern Head Coach Chelsey Warburton said.
Toluono would go on to finish the game with a double-double after scoring 23 points and 13 rebounds. She also had four assists in 36 minutes of play.
In the fourth quarter the Eagles had another great performance, this time by freshman guard Brooklynn Barrus.
Barrus shot for 13 points in the fourth quarter, with 7 of those points coming from the free throw line down the stretch.
CSI’s Mallory Lapoole was able to make a lay up in the final four seconds of regulation to tie the game 81-81. In overtime the Eagles trailed multiple times.
With 1:58 to play, sophomore guard Rashel Blazzard made a jumper to cut the CSI lead to 88-86. At the other end, Blazzard would get the defensive rebound and come back on offensive to sink a three pointer to give the Eagles an 89-88 lead with a 1:28 left.
That wasn’t the final points scored by Blazzard; she would go on to make four clutch free throws in the final 32 seconds of the game.
All five starters for the Eagles finished the game in double figures, including Blazzard with 11 points, Barrus with 18 and Alyssa Crumley with 16 points.
Sophomore Madison Loftus hit three threes in the game to give her 85 on the season, which ties a school record she broke last year as an NJCAA All-American.
The Eagles get ready for a tough Snow College team on Thursday night for USU Eastern Fan Appreciation Night.
Tipoff is 5:30 p.m.
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