'New meaning to Down Under': Aussie's incredible game-winner
Australian basketballer Jessica McDowell-White has pulled off an incredible play to make history for her college team.
The freshman point guard sent her Eastern Washington Eagles into their first Big Sky conference championship game in 30 years when she made an incredible play with just 4.6 seconds left on the clock.
Inbounding the ball down by one point, McDowell-White bounced the ball off her opponent’s rear, before catching it and finishing a huge and-one layup.
Here is how the Eags survived & advanced to their first #BigSkyWBB Championship game in 31 seasons!!!#SCTop10 #DareToSoar #GoEags pic.twitter.com/WZtQNWUQXh
— EWU WBB (@EWUWBB) March 14, 2019
4th, 3.2 | Jessica McDowell-White scores the layup after the in bounds play after bouncing it off her UNC defender!
🦅59 -🐻57#DareToSoar #BigSkyWBB #GoEags pic.twitter.com/ioH3AsOaGU
— EWU WBB (@EWUWBB) March 14, 2019
McDowell-White finished with 10 points, two rebounds and two assists in the thrilling 59-57 victory.
Her unique play drew plenty of praise and love from the team’s fans online, as well as the Australian basketball community.
@espnW @ESPNTop new meaning to “Down Under” as Brisbane’s Jessica McDowell-White bounces ball off backside of N. Colo player for game winner! @EWUWBB makes it to @BigSkyWBB tourney championship final! https://t.co/a4gLVE4A1I
— kcphoto (@kcphoto4) March 14, 2019
Jessica McDowell-White's new nickname is "Crafty Australian."
UNC took a lead with 7 seconds to go, then @EWUWBB's freshman makes a game-winning play.Eagles are in the championship. pic.twitter.com/3cFHmeKk6R
— Alyssa Charlston (@Alyssacharlston) March 14, 2019
Wow! What a game in Boise. Eastern Washington hits the game winner with 3.2 seconds to play. Jessica McDowell-White hit the shot after intentionally passing it off the back of a UNC defender on an inbounds pass. EWU wins 59-57 and is headed to its first ever Big Sky Final!
— Sam Adams SWX (@SamAdamsTV) March 14, 2019
@EWUWBB the Aussies were HUGE tonight! Great defense by @bkklaman and Jessica McDowell-White with the perfect amount of flair for the moment! #GoEags
— Luke Byrnes (@LukeBNCAA) March 14, 2019
Unbelievable.@EWUWBB’s Jessica McDowell-White inbounds pass off opponent’s back before collecting ball and making game-winning layup in final seconds to advance to Big Sky title game.
She made free throw to give EWU 59-57 win over UNC. #bigskywbb pic.twitter.com/IKyVDfICzH
— Jeff Papworth (@JeffPapworth) March 14, 2019
Should the Eagles win the Big Sky conference title game against the Portland State, they will progress to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1987.
If they make it, it will be just the second time in the team’s history they will have advanced to the tournament stage.