The women’s basketball team gave a valiant effort, but the offense of was too much as the Fighting Sioux won the Spring Thaw Tournament with a 93-71 victory Sunday evening at the .
In the final collegiate game of her career, Chelsie Morrison (), named to the all-tournament team, led SeattleU with 22 points, six rebounds, and three steals. Breanna Salley (, ) and Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.) each scored 16 points, while Cassidy Murillo () finished with 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
(18-11) scored the first six points of the game and held an eight-point lead at 17-9 early in the contest, but consecutive three-pointers by Murillo and a jumper from Mercedes Alexander () pulled SeattleU into a 17-17 tie. After Morrison hit two free throws to give the Redhawks a 36-35 lead, scored the next nine points to take the lead for good.
In the second half, a layup by Kerfoot was followed by back-to-back three-pointers from Morrison and Salley to bring SeattleU within one point (56-55) with 13:38 remaining in regulation. The Fighting Sioux went on a 23-2 run over the next six minutes, not allowing a SeattleU field goal during that time to put the game away and earn the tournament title.
’s Kierah Kimbrough, the tournament’s most valuable player, led all players with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Kayla Bagaason earned her spot on the all-tournament team with 23 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Alys Seay came off the bench and contributed 16 points, six rebounds, and four steals, and Danye Guinn, also named to the all-tournament team, added 11 points, six rebounds, and six assists to the winning effort.
North Dakota shot 53.4 percent from the field (31-of-58) and 83.3 percent from the free throw line (25-of-30), while Seattle University hit only 32.8 percent of its field goal attempts (22-of-67), including 11-of-31 from the three-point line, and 76.2 percent from the free throw line (16-of-21). The Sioux won the rebounding battle, 42-33, and forced 17 SeattleU turnovers, but the Redhawks were able to force into 15 turnovers during the game.
Despite the loss, was able to complete its most successful season in 16 years, finishing with a 20-9 record, the first 20-win season since the 1992-93 campaign. Included in the record are victories at WAC school , at WCC member , and at Big West school UC Davis. SeattleU also posted the first perfect home record in program history, winning all ten home games during the regular season.
With only Morrison and Alysse Carlson () graduating this year, SeattleU is expected to return an experienced group of players for the 2009-2010 season. will play a full Division I schedule next season as it continues the reclassification process.