The Utah State Eastern women's basketball team opened its 2026-27 season on Friday, Oct. 30, with a 60-50 loss to Northwest College in Richfield, Utah. Redshirt freshman Peyton Behnke provided a team-high 14 points in the contest, which saw the Eagles struggle to overcome a second-half deficit against the Trappers.
Early Game Momentum
The Eagles engaged in a competitive opening quarter, driven by six points from redshirt freshman Peyton Behnke. Despite Behnke's early offensive contribution, Eastern entered the end of the first period trailing Northwest College 17-14.
Halftime Scoreline
During the second quarter, Eastern demonstrated efficiency at the free-throw line, converting five of six attempts. This performance helped the Eagles secure 14 points in the period, though Northwest College maintained its lead to enter halftime with a 32-28 advantage. Behnke led the Eagles' scoring efforts in the first half with eight points.
Second Half Struggles
Eastern began the second half with two consecutive baskets that tied the game at 32. However, Northwest College responded with a 10-2 scoring run to reclaim control of the match. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Eagles trailed 47-38.
Final Scoring Breakdown
In the final period, Behnke added six more points as the Eagles attempted to narrow the score. Ultimately, Northwest College outscored Eastern 13-12 in the fourth quarter, securing the 60-50 victory. Behnke was the only player for Eastern to reach double figures. Keira Hester contributed seven points and six rebounds for the Eagles.
Schedule Changes
The Eagles' schedule underwent a change after the season opener. While originally scheduled to play Community Christian College on Saturday, Oct. 31, that game has been canceled.
Upcoming Schedule
The Utah State Eastern women's basketball team is scheduled to return to competition on Friday, Nov. 6, at the Coca-Cola Classic hosted by the College of Southern Idaho. The Eagles are set to face Treasure Valley Community College on Friday before playing Dawson Community College on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Game Credits
The game recap was provided by Jose Briseno, Assistant SID, as reported by ETV News.
