The Seattle University women’s basketball team recovered from a tough loss and a flight through two time zones, using a rebounding advantage and a second-half run to pick up its fourth win of the season over a Division I program with a 62-56 victory over Houston Baptist Sunday afternoon at Sharp Gymnasium.
Breanna Salley (East Bethel, Minn.) shot 11-of-17 from the field as she led all players with 26 points, the sixth time she has scored more than 20 points in a game this season. Mercedes Alexander (Eugene, Ore.) continued to dominate the boards, pulling down more than ten rebounds for the fourth time in the last five games with 19 boards to go along with eight points, three assists, and two steals.
Houston Baptist (4-12) held the lead for most of the first half, going up by as much as six points at 24-18 with 5:31 remaining before halftime. Seattle University scored the last 11 points of the half, with Samantha Messersmith (Harold, Calif.) and Chelsie Morrison (Portland, Ore.) scoring four points each during the run, to give the Redhawks a 29-24 lead at halftime.
A three-pointer by Morrison gave SeattleU a 37-32 lead six minutes into the second half, but the Huskies scored seven straight points over the next two minutes to regain the lead, 39-37. Salley scored nine points during a 14-0 run by SeattleU that gave the visitors a 12-point advantage with 6:15 remaining in regulation. Although the Redhawks did not make a field goal in the final five minutes of the contest, the team did hit 9-of-13 free throws, including 6-of-8 in the final 45 seconds, to hold off a Houston Baptist rally.
Morrison shot 5-of-11 from the field, including two three-pointers, and 4-of-4 from the free throw line on her way to a 16-point, eight-rebound performance. Cassidy Murillo (Yakima, Wash.) contributed five points, two rebounds, and five assists, and Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.), struggling with her shot, added to the team effort in other ways with six rebounds, two assists, and three steals.
Cindee Wright notched a double-double, leading the Huskies with 21 points and 12 rebounds, including nine offensive rebounds. Fallon Thomas finished with ten points, six rebounds, two assists, and five steals, while Raquel Jones earned eight points, four rebounds, and four assists during the afternoon. As a team, Houston Baptist shot 36.5 percent from the field, including 5-of-17 from the three-point line, and 54.2 percent (13-of-24) from the free throw line.
Seattle University outrebounded Houston Baptist, 46-35, which helped overcome 23 Redhawk turnovers. During the game, SeattleU shot 38.6 percent from the field, including 4-of-14 from the three-point line, and 58.3 percent (14-of-24) from the free throw line. SeattleU has now won four of its last five games, and all four of its victories against Division I opponents have come on the road.
Seattle University (8-7) heads to Puerto Rico next weekend for games against Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras and Puerto Rico-Bayamon Jan. 17-18, both starting at 5 p.m. local time. SeattleU then returns to the Connolly Center for its first home game as a Division I program against a Division I school when Southern Illinois-Edwardsville comes to town Saturday, Jan. 24, for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.