Casper, Wyo. — Eastern Arizona College looked right at home on the national stage Wednesday.
In their third consecutive trip to the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Tournament, the 10th-seeded Gila Monsters turned in a complete performance, storming past Olive-Harvey College 92–57 in the opening round at the Ford Wyoming Center.
The win—Eastern’s eighth straight—pushed their record to 26–6 and secured a second-round matchup with No. 7 seed McLennan Community College, set for Friday at 12:15 p.m. MT and streaming live on ESPN+.
While it wasn’t a season-high, the 92-point output was the highest scored by any team in this year’s tournament so far, a testament to Eastern’s depth, tempo, and balance. The Gila Monsters shot 52.9% from the field and 63.2% from three, while holding Olive-Harvey to just 26.8% shooting and forcing 22 turnovers.
Sophomore Stephany Goncalves led the way with 15 points (6-of-7 shooting), 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks, delivering a near-flawless stat line. Ashlynn Chlarson added 11 points and 10 boards for a double-double, and Eanae Dagons chipped in 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Eastern Arizona’s bench was equally potent. Celestine Segretain scored 12 on 5-of-6 shooting, while Phalan Sigers and Danaeja Romero each knocked down three 3-pointers and tallied 9 points apiece. In all, 11 players found the scoring column, and five Gila Monsters collected 7 or more rebounds.
On the defensive end, Eastern blocked 10 shots, including three by Millie Pearson, and limited Olive-Harvey to just 3-of-11 from beyond the arc.
This year, the Gila Monsters aren’t sneaking up on anyone. Under head coach Angelica de Paulo, Eastern Arizona has transformed from a surprise Final Four team into a true national threat. After last year’s Cinderella run as a No. 20 seed, EAC enters this tournament with a target on its back—and they’re embracing it. As the No. 10 seed, they’re deeper, more experienced, and playing with the urgency of a team that believes it belongs among the best.
They’ll face one of their toughest tests yet Friday, but with the way the Gila Monsters are playing, the momentum—and the message—are clear: Eastern Arizona isn’t just back. They’re ready to climb even higher.
