The Seattle University women’s basketball team was able to hold off the University of South Dakota for their 20th victory of the season in game one of the Spring Thaw Tournament on Saturday.
After taking a 3-2 lead early on, SeattleU never looked back, beating the Coyotes 66-61. Mercedes Alexander (Eugene, Ore.) led the way for Seattle with 17 points and ten boards for her fifth straigth double-double. Senior Chelsie Morrison (Portland, Ore.) scored 15 points, Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.) had 13, and Breanna Salley (East Bethel, Minn.) collected 11 points and seven boards.
The first half was filled with mostly back and forth action as the Redhawks and Coyotes traded baskets early on. Seattle University was able to open up its biggest lead of the half, 11 points, with a 20-7 run over the final seven minutes. Morrison capped off the scoring with a jumper and sent Seattle into the locker room with a ten point advantage, 39-29.
Seattle was able to keep the Coyotes at bay for most of the second half as they took a 14-point lead with 6:30 left in the contest thanks to a steal and layup by Salley. South Dakota would cut into the lead over the next three minutes with a 9-0 run to cut the lead to five at 61-56. With 3:03 remaining, Cassidy Murillo (Yakima, Wash.) came up with a huge three-pointer from the corner to stop the run. After trading a pair of baskets, Maggie Youngberg brought the Coyotes deficit to three with just over a minute remaining, knocking down three of her 11 points. As time wound down, Alexander capped off the game with a pair of free throws to give SeattleU the five point victory.
Seattle University finished the game shooting 39.7 percent from the field, going 24-for-61, and went 10-of-14 from the free throw line. The Redhawks won the rebounding battle by nine, swiping 36 boards for the game. They turned the ball over just nine times while creating eight turnovers and committing just six fouls.
South Dakota (17-10) was led by Bridget Yoerger, who had 15 points and five rebounds, while Annie Roche added 12 points, three boards, and six assists. The Coyotes finished the game shooting 46.8 percent from the field, including 7-of-15 from behind the arc.
Seattle University (20-8) will finish their season tomorrow at 3 p.m. (Pacific Time) during the championship game of the Spring Thaw Tournament, taking on North Dakota, who defeated Houston Baptist, 97-68. You can listen to all of the action at GoSeattleU.com as Gary Hill, Jr. will have the play-by-play.