Hodgins' Layup Caps Bronco Comeback

Sunday, December 15

Cheney, Wash.

2:05 PM MT

Boise State

8-4,2-0Mountain West

Eastern Washington

1-6,0-0Big Sky

Boise St.

Eastern Wash.

Photo by: Boise State University

12/15/2019 5:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Postgame Quotes

CHENEY, Wash. - In the last game in which a Hodgins sister would play on Reese Court, it was fitting that that Hodgins sister would provide the memorable moment.

Braydey Hodgins, youngest sister of Eastern Washington's top two career scorers, Delaney (2015-18) and Hayley (2013-16), scored six of Boise State's final eight points, capped by a driving layup with 2.2 seconds to play that sent the Broncos to a 63-61 win over the Eagles.

Even then, Boise State had to watch for agonizing moments that felt like hours as Grace Kirscher's triple at the buzzer for Eastern Washington went front iron-glass-front iron before rimming out.

Hodgins' finger roll punctuated an 18-5 game-closing run for the Broncos (8-4), as they overcame an 11-point deficit over the final 6:32. It put the wraps on a 17-point effort from the Pasco, Wash., native which included a 6-for-6 showing from the line.

Sophomore center Rachel Bowers was just as vital to the Bronco comeback, scoring eight of her career high-matching 19 points over the run, finishing the day 7-for-10 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line in 17 minutes off the bench.

"I thought we really scrambled defensively, got some key steals, and kept them from scoring down the stretch," said Boise State head coach Gordy Presnell. "Braydey was fantastic down the stretch of the game and we made some plays."

Eastern Washington (0-6) had every right to feel secure after Kirscher's short jumper gave the Eagles a 56-45 lead over a Bronco team that struggled to find a rhythm up to that point. Even when the Broncos scored the next three points to get within five, Kirscher, who scored a game-high 20 points, hit her third 3-pointer to make it 59-51 Eagles with 3:54 to go.

That was where Hodgins and Bowers, and the Bronco defense, took over. While Bowers and Hodgins combined for the final 12 Bronco points, the defense forced three Eagle turnovers and held them to just one field goal over their final five attempts.

Bowers started the final run with two layups to bring the Broncos within six at 61-55. Jenna Dick, who finished 6-of-10 shooting with 15 points for the Eagles, missed a triple, leading the Hodgins drawing contact on the other end and hitting both freebies to make it a four-point game with 1:45 to play.

After Kirscher stepped on the baseline on a drive, Hodgins drew another foul on the over-the-limit Eagles, hitting both to cut it to two 27 seconds later. A'Shanti Coleman would then steal an inbounds pass on the other end, tipping to Hodgins who found Bowers in stride on the break for the game-tying layup.

"[Rachel's] play in the second half, even defensively, she slid her feet and was really good," Presnell noted.

Bowers would then stand up Bella Cravens on defense, forcing a miss from outside the key, and Boise State called timeout with 22.3 seconds to play. On the inbounds, Hodgins found the edge at the right edge of the free-throw line, and finished with the finger roll to provide the winning points.

"Braydey's done that her whole career. She's able to perform at a high level when the pressure is on. She did it again tonight and it was fun to see her do it in front of her friends and family," Presnell said.

The Broncos had led, 27-24, at the break after 3-pointers from Hodgins and Riley Lupfer spurred a 13-3 half-ending run and carry the Broncos.

But Eastern Washington, which went 3-for-13 from deep in the first half, went for broke in the second, shooting 52.9 percent in the third quarter, including a 5-of-13 showing from deep. The barrage, concluded with Dick beating the buzzer from the corner, gave the Eagles a 47-41 edge going into the fourth quarter.

But Hodgins and Bowers would score eight points apiece in the fourth, combining to go 5-for-6 from the field (4-for-4 for Bowers), as the Broncos collectively shot 61.5 percent over the final 10 minutes.

Boise State shot 50.0 percent (13-for-26) in the second half, while the Eagles nearly matched that, going 15-for-32 (46.9 percent). It was a stark contrast from the first half, in which the Broncos and Eagles shot just 33.3 percent and 32.1 percent, respectively.