Chelsie Morrison (Portland, Ore.) scored 21 of her 28 points in the first half to help Seattle University take an early lead as the women’s basketball team won its third consecutive road game with a 72-54 victory over Puerto Rico-Bayamon Sunday evening.
After Angelie Morales scored the first basket of the game, Morrison converted on a traditional three-point play and followed that with four baskets from behind the three-point line as SeattleU opened a 22-9 advantage halfway through the first half. Leslie Vazquez hit a three-pointer to bring Puerto Rico-Bayamon within nine late in the half, but Morrison hit a jumper right before halftime, and the SeattleU lead never dipped below double digits again.
Morrison shot 10-of-16 from the field, including 6-of-8 from the three-point line, and 2-of-3 from the free throw line in picking up her 28 points, plus she collected six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Breanna Salley (East Bethel, Minn.) did not start the game, but came in off the bench and ended up with 15 points, three rebounds, and two steals.
Junior guard Cassidy Murillo (Yakima, Wash.) produced a solid all-around game, as she hit three shots from long distance for nine points, pulled down eight rebounds, and dished out seven assists. SeattleU shot 40 percent (24-of-60) from the field, including 11-of-27 from the three-point line, and 13-of-20 from the free throw line.
Morales hit three baskets from behind the three-point line to lead Puerto Rico-Bayamon with 15 points, Keisha Bachour hit 7-of-9 shots from the free throw line in scoring 12 points, and Karla Krause contributed seven points, six rebounds, and two blocked shots. PR-Bayamon shot only 34.7 percent (17-of-49) from the field and lost the rebounding battle to SeattleU, 47-28.
Seattle University (10-7) will face its first Division I opponent as a Division I program at home when Southern Illinois-Edwardsville visits next Saturday, Jan. 24, for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at the Connolly Center. Live stats and audio of the game will be available on GoSeattleU.com.