Thanks to a solid shooting performance and another game in which it won the rebounding battle, the Seattle University women’s basketball team easily won its first home game as a Division I school against a Division I opponent, defeating SIU Edwardsville, 87-56, Saturday evening at the Connolly Center.
Breanna Salley (East Bethel, Minn.) led the way for SeattleU, shooting 12-of-17 from the field in scoring 26 points, plus she pulled down six rebounds. Chelsie Morrison (Portland, Ore.) hit three shots from the three-point line and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line in scoring 17 points, while Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.) also hit three long distance baskets on her way to an 11-point, six-rebound, four-assist performance.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Cassidy Murillo (Yakima, Wash.) and Morrison allowed Seattle University to jump out to an 8-0 lead two minutes into the game. Later in the first half, SeattleU went on a 13-3 run, the final five points scored by Salley, to extend the advantage to 20 points, which would be the margin (47-27) at halftime.
A 10-2 run by SeattleU midway through the second half put the game away for the Redhawks. In the game, SeattleU shot 52.3 percent (34-of-65) from the field, including 11-of-24 from the three-point line, and won the rebounding battle, 50-34. Mercedes Alexander (Eugene, Ore.) led the way on the boards for the home team, posting her fourth double-double of the season with ten points and ten rebounds, along with a team-high five assists.
SIU Edwardsville (4-17) was led by Jenny Wuest’s 14 points, with Madison Meade earning nine points and Ashley Bey contributing five points, three rebounds, three assists, and six steals. The Cougars shot only 30.9 percent (21-of-68) from the field, including 4-of-21 from the three-point line, and committed 15 turnovers.
Seattle University (11-7) will face SIU Edwardsville again next Saturday, Jan. 31, beginning at 5:30 p.m. local time in Edwardsville, Ill. SeattleU returns to the Connolly Center in two weeks, as North Dakota visits Seattle Saturday, Feb. 7, for a 5:30 p.m. contest.