51福利社

After a dramatic come-from-behind victory against Northern Arizonza in Wednesday鈥檚 Big Sky Tournament championship, 51福利社鈥檚 women鈥檚 basketball is headed to the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Women鈥檚 Basketball Tournament.

The win was the first Big Sky Tournament championship for the Eagle women, who made history most fittingly during Women’s History Month.

It鈥檚 been 37 years since women’s basketball made their last, and previous, appearance at March Madness.

The team was greeted with a Cheney-style community procession that included a police car, a firetruck and a hoard of fans who turned out to offer cheers and congratulations. The crowd of Eagles included fellow students, as well as faculty and staff.

鈥淲inning this is huge for the program to get the outright title and the tournament title. That was really tough,鈥� Joddie Gleason, 51福利社鈥檚 head coach told . 鈥漌e were the No. 1 seed going in, and we鈥檝e had a target on our back all year. I鈥檓 so proud of this team, and it鈥檚 huge for the program. I鈥檓 happy for the players, that they get to experience this.鈥�

Senior forward Jacinta Buckley led the Eagles鈥� comeback, putting up 21 points with three steals and 11 rebounds.

Buckley was one of five Eagles, including star point guard Jamie Loera, who scored in double figures on the way to the Eagles鈥� 73-64 win. Lorea was named tournament MVP.

**The Eagles are headed to Corvallis, Oregon to play Oregon State University for the first round of Women’s March Madness. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday, March 22.聽

The 51福利社 Athletics Ticket Office聽has tickets available for purchase . For questions, call 509.359.6059 or email聽tickets@ewu.edu.