USUE Women’s Basketball Edges CSI in Overtime

USUE Press Release

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 on Saturday and helped the Eagles come back to win the game. With being down by five after halftime, Toluono led the Eagles in the third quarter with 10 points and five rebounds.

“Kaitlin had a big-time game for us. It is great to have her back in the line-up, she played confident and made great decisions,” said USU Eastern head coach Chelsye Warburton.

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 the 36 minutes she played.

In the fourth quarter, the Eagles had another great performance, this time by freshman guard Brooklynn Barrus.

Barrus had 13 points in the fourth quarter with seven of those points coming from the free throw line down the stretch. In the final minute of the game, she scored her team’s final five points of regulation.

CSI’s Mallory Lapoole was able to make a layup in the final four seconds of regulation to tie the game at 81-81.

In overtime, the Eagles trailed multiple times and were even down by four with just over two minutes to play.

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 offense to sink a three pointer to give the Eagles a 89-88 lead with a 1:28 left.

Those weren’t the final points scored by Blazzard, though. She would go on to make four clutch free throws in the final 32 seconds of the game to help the Eagles get the win.

“Rashel did an excellent job closing the game for us. She hit a big three pointers and then went 4-4 from the free throw line to win capture the win,” said Warburton.

After the game, Toluono said that it felt good to be on the court and get the team win.

“It felt good and was much needed. We shared the ball really well and fought hard the entire time,” said Toluono.

All five starters for the Eagles finished the game in double figures, including Blazzar 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 the school record for most three pointers made in a season, a record that she broke last year as a NJCAA All-American.

The Eagles will now have three days to get ready for a tough Snow College team that will come to Price on Thursday night for USU Eastern Fan Appreciation Night.

Tip-off for Thursday night’s game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and is free to the public.

Fans who are unable to attend Thursday’s game can watch the game live on the USU Eastern Athletics YouTube channel.