Breanna Salley (, ) scored 25 points, including the game-tying and game-winning baskets in overtime, as the women’s basketball team squeaked past Lewis-Clark State, 67-63, Saturday evening at the .
Cassidy Murillo () hit a three-point shot to start the overtime, and Salley followed with a steal and layup to give SeattleU a five-point lead. answered with seven straight points to take a 63-61 lead with 1:54 remaining in the extra period. Salley hit a shot to tie the game at 63-63, and then took a long pass from Elle Kerfoot (, B.C.) and converted a layup with 32 seconds left to give the home team a two-point advantage. After the Warriors missed a shot, Murillo was fouled and made both free throws to put the game away.
Along with her 25 points, Salley pulled down seven rebounds, five of them on the offensive side of the floor, blocked two shots, and earned three steals. Chelsie Morrison () finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and two blocked shots, while Murillo contributed ten points and five rebounds to the winning effort. Mercedes Alexander () led all players with 13 rebounds to go along with six points, three assists, and two steals.
The second half was highly competitive, with nine ties and ten lead changes. Salley hit a free throw with 2:18 left in regulation to tie the game at 54-54, and then made a layup with 29 seconds remaining to give SeattleU a two-point lead. Alyssa Fierro answered with a layup of her own with 16 seconds left on the clock to again tie the game, and a jumper by Morrison was unsuccessful as time ran out, forcing the overtime session.
, counting this game as an exhibition contest, was led by Sadie Short, who finished with 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Kim Preston finished with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals, and Jasmine Stohr earned ten points and five rebounds in the contest. Kenna Reiter made her mark off the bench, contributing five points, five rebounds, three assists, a blocked shot, and a game-high five steals.
Two three-pointers by Morrison allowed to jump out to a 14-5 lead in the first four minutes of the contest. After cut its deficit to three points, SeattleU expanded the margin back to eight, but the Warriors answered with seven straight points to come within one at 21-20. After another SeattleU burst that saw the lead grow to six points at 28-22, Lewis-Clark State again responded, coming within one point with two minutes left before halftime and eventually going into the locker room down only by three points (33-30) at halftime.
(7-6) will play six of the next seven games on the road, beginning Friday, Jan. 9, with a contest at Cal State Bakersfield beginning at 7 p.m. The next home game for SeattleU is Saturday, Jan. 24, against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, the first Division I home game for the women’s basketball team this season, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the .