After an even first half, the Seattle University women’s basketball team opened up a double-digit lead in the second half, but Boise State came back to earn the season-opening 66-56 victory Friday night at the Taco Bell Arena.
Chelsie Morrison (Portland, Ore.) and Cassidy Murillo (Yakima, Wash.) hit back-to-back three-pointers in the first 30 seconds after halftime to give Seattle University a 33-27 lead. The Redhawks outscored the Broncos, 14-3, in the first five minutes of the second half to extend their advantage to 41-30.
Boise State (1-0) was down 50-41 with 9:19 remaining after Tatiana Heck (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) hit a jumper. The two-time defending WAC champions would go on an 18-1 run over the next five minutes to take control of the game, led by seven points by Tasha Harris and six points from Ja’lara Walker. A three-pointer from Murillo and two free throws by Heck brought the Redhawks within three, but Boise State scored the final seven points to close out the game.
Morrison led Seattle University with 19 points, hitting five three-pointers in the game. Heck finished with 12 points and six rebounds, while Mercedes Alexander (Eugene, Ore.) contributed 11 points and eight rebounds and Murillo added ten points and four assists. As a team, Seattle University shot 35.4 percent from the field, including 35.0 percent from the three-point line, and 65.3 percent from the free throw line.
The Broncos were led by Harris, who finished with 25 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Walker shot 6-of-8 from the field in scoring 13 points, plus she pulled down eight rebounds. Jamia Malone led all players with four steals and shot 10-of-14 from the free throw line to account for her points. Boise State won the rebounding battle, 44-36, and forced 28 Redhawk turnovers.
The first half was marked by a series of runs and tough defense. A jumper by Heck and a three-pointer from Morrison gave Seattle an early 7-3 lead, but Boise State struck right back with five straight points. After a traditional three-point play by Alexander broke the scoring run, Harris scored five unanswered points to give Boise State a 15-10 lead.
The Redhawks answered with a jumper by Bianca Williams (Torrance, Calif.) and another three-point play from Williams to tie the game, 15-15. A 6-0 Bronco run put the home team back on top, 23-18, but SeattleU scored nine of the final 13 points of the half to go into the locker room at halftime tied at 27-27. The two teams combined for only 15 field goals while turning over the ball 24 times.
Seattle University (0-1) will have a week to prepare for its next Division I opponent, as the Redhawks face San Jose State Sunday, Nov. 23, beginning at 2 p.m. SeattleU will then play three straight games in its hometown, beginning with two games at Bank of America Arena for the Husky Classic on Thanksgiving weekend before the home opener Tuesday, Dec. 2, against Seattle Pacific starting at 7 p.m. at the Connolly Center.