Cold shooting from the field and free-throw line, combined with a hot first half for Eastern Washington, led to an 83-71 loss for BYU in the first game of the BYU Holiday Classic Thursday in Provo.
"We've got to play harder, we didn't have as much intensity as we should have out there," said Cougar coach Soni Adams.Howard nipped Cincinnati 72-70 in the second game.
Eastern Washington broke open an early 6-6 tie to open up a 10-8 lead and never trailed again in the game. The Eagles eventually pulled out to a 10-point 28-18 margin, and the closest BYU could get after that was four points.
Trailing 51-42 at the half, the Cougars scored five quick points on a three-pointer by Thais Kidd and a field goal by Kim Henry to pull to within four at 51-47. But the Eagles came back with six unanswered points and BYU
never got close again.
Kidd led all scorers with 22 points and added five assist. Debbie Dimond added 18 points and seven rebounds.
Lori Watterson and Resa Napier topped Eastern Washington with 16 points each. Napier added a game-high 14 rebounds.
BYU plays Cincinnati Friday at 1 p.m. in the consolation game and Eastern Washington takes on Howard in the championship at 3 p.m. Both games are in the Marriott Center.