The Seattle University women’s basketball team came back from a 15-point second half deficit to force overtime and eventually held off South Dakota for a 57-53 victory Saturday evening at the Connolly Center, the team’s ninth victory in a row.
Down 35-20 four minutes into the second half, SeattleU went on an 18-3 run over the next nine minutes, punctuated by a three-point play by Breanna Salley (East Bethel, Minn.), to tie the game at 38-38. The teams traded baskets the rest of regulation, with Chelsie Morrison (Portland, Ore.) hitting a layup with 1:14 remaining to give SeattleU a 46-44 lead, followed by a layup by Bridget Yoerger with five seconds left to tie the game and send it into the extra session.
Yoerger started overtime with two made free throws, but Cassidy Murillo (Yakima, Wash.) was fouled shooting a three-pointer and made all three free throws to give SeattleU the lead for good. Morrison and Mercedes Alexander (Eugene, Ore.) hit layups to keep the Redhawks ahead, and Morrison iced the game with four free throws in the final seconds.
Morrison led Seattle University with 16 points, plus she grabbed seven rebounds, dished out two assists, and earned two steals. Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.) hit five three-pointers to collect a season-high 15 points along with four steals, and Salley contributed 13 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two blocked shots.
Alexander finished with eight points and nine rebounds, while Murillo added three points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals to the winning effort. Despite shooting only 29.2 percent from the field, SeattleU was able to pull out the victory by committing only nine turnovers and hitting 11-of-13 shots from the free throw line.
Yoerger led South Dakota (14-8) with a double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Annie Roche scored 14 points, and Kara Iverson and Ashley Wiemann each scored nine points in the game. The Coyotes shot 42.3 percent from the field and won the rebounding battle, 42-37, but committed 19 turnovers and attempted only six free throws, making three of them.
Seattle University (16-7) will continue the six-game homestand next weekend, facing Academy of Art University Thursday, Feb. 19, and Cal State Bakersfield Saturday, Feb. 21, with both games starting at 7 p.m. at the Connolly Center. Live stats and audio will be available on GoSeattleU.com.