Last Time Out: The Redhawks opened up the 2009-10 campaign at home this past weekend. Despite strong efforts up and down the lineup, the Redhawks were unable to earn their first victory of the season under the tutelage new head coach Joan Bonvicini. SU fell to an all-around sound squad in UC Davis, 71-49, on Nov. 13. The following evening, the Redhawks were unable to earn their first win of the year, as they were edged 50-47 by Concordia (Ore.).
On Deck: Following the BTI Classic, SU returns home to host Sacramento State on Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 6 p.m. in the Connolly Center. After taking on the Hornets, SU will host the SeattleU Thanksgiving Tournament from Friday, Nov. 27, to Sunday, Nov. 29. The four-team tournament will include William & Mary, UW-Milwaukee and South Alabama. The Redhawks will take on WM on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 5 p.m. and close out the weekend with Milwaukee the following afternoon. Tip time is slated for 1 p.m. versus the Panthers.
Follow the Game: Fans can follow all the Redhawk women's basketball action by logging onto www.GoSeattleU.com. Live stats will be available for all of this weekend's action.
The Bonvicini Breakdown: It is going to be a very challenging weekend. We are playing some very talented teams, beginning with Purdue. There will be a great crowd and a great environment for our team and program to experience. We are going to be challenged and we are going to do our very best.
The Basketball Travelers Invitational Classic: Purdue University hosts a four-team tournament from Friday, Nov. 20, to Sunday, Nov. 22. Participating in the three-day tournament is Dayton, Georgetown, SeattleU and host Purdue. All games will be played in West Lafayette, Ind. at the PU's Mackey Arena.
Scouting Purdue: The Boilermakers of Purdue University (1-0) host the BTI Classic behind top scorer Brittany Rayburn. The sophomore guard scored 23 points in 34 minutes of work in PU's season opening 70-37 victory over Western Illinois. Rayburn scored a career-high points versus WIU. Freshman Sam Ostarello led the Boilermaker defense with her 12-rebound off the bench performance.
Purdue opens up their Classic with the Redhawks. This will be the first time in SeattleU program history that the two teams will face off with each other.
Scouting Georgetown: SeattleU is set to square off with Georgetown in game two of the BTI Classic. Prior to traveling to West Lafayette, Ind. for the three-day tournament, the Hoyas will take on James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. on Wednesday, Nov. 18. The very young GU squad, made up of seven underclassmen, will open up the Basketball Travelers Invitational with Dayton.
In their season opener, the Hoyas defeated Missouri State 79-55 behind 21 points from freshman Sugar Rodgers. Both Jaleesa Bulter and Rubylee Wright tallied six rebounds apiece to lead the team's rebounding efforts.
The Redhawks will take on the Hoyas for the first time in SU women's basketball history at the Purdue-hosted tournament.
Scouting Dayton: The Redhawks will close out the Classic with the Dayton Flyers (1-1). The Ohio-based program travels to Indiana after falling to Louisville 65-63 at home on Nov. 15. Kristin Daugherty led the Flyers versus Louisville with 12 points and four rebounds, and Casey Nance was the top rebounder with 11. UD was only able to shoot 31.7 percent in their first loss of the season.
In their 2009-10 opener, Dayton defeated then-No. 10 Michigan State 77-74. Daugherty led the Flyer offense with 17 points in 27 minutes on the floor. Justine Raterman had her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
SU will be the designated home team in their first-ever matchup with Dayton.
Game Two Recap - Concordia
Nov. 14, 2009 - L 50-47
The Seattle University women's basketball team closed out their opening weekend with a 50-47 loss to Concordia (Ore.). Despite keeping the score close, the Redhawks were unable to earn their first victory of the year. With the loss SU falls to 0-2, while Concordia improves to 3-0.
Sophomore Maggie McCarthy headlined the SeattleU offense with 12 points and senior Cassidy Murillo tallied nine to lead the team.
After trailing throughout the second half, SU brought the game to within a basket with 1:31 left in the game after Julee Christianson intercepted the ball and passed it off to Tatiana Heck who converted the basket. With the game within reach, the Cavaliers dished in a 3-pointer to seal their third consecutive victory with under a minute left in the game.
Game One Recap - UC Davis
Nov. 13, 2009 - L 71-49
In their 2009-10 season opener, the Seattle University women's basketball team fell 71-49 to UC Davis Friday evening in the Connolly Center. The Aggies managed the ball throughout the contest to prevent SU from getting a strong offensive rhythm.
In the first half Cassidy Murillo's 3-pointer brought the game to within three. Down 17-14, the Aggies began to panic with the ball and turned it over in two consecutive possessions. With 8:17 left in the first, SU came within one, off of two converted free throws from transfer Kourtney Parks. With the score 17-16 and momentum on their side, Davis continued to turn the ball over.
After allowing SU to get within one midway through the first half, UCD took off and never looked back. They shot 50 percent in the first half, while the Redhawks struggled and shot 29.2 percent. The tides did not change in the second half, as Davis continued on several strong scoring runs and their defense prevented the Redhawks from playing their offensive game.
On the Road: After opening up the 2009-10 season at home with UC Davis and Concordia, the SeattleU women's basketball team will hit the road for their first road trip of the year. They will travel to the Midwest to participate in Purdue's Basketball Travelers Invitational Classic.
A Trio of First Evers: The Redhawks will embark on unfamiliar territory this weekend, as they travel to the Basketball Travelers Invitational Classic. SU will square off with Dayton, Georgetown and Purdue first time in program history.
McCarthy Leads Redhawks After Opening Weekend: Sophomore Maggie McCarthy leads the Redhawks with 24 points and 13 rebounds after two regular season contests. The small forward averaged 34.0 minutes of action this past weekend and was a consistent contributor in the lineup. Versus UC Davis on Nov. 13, the Burlingame, Calif. native was 4-for-9 in field goals and 2-for-3 in 3-pointers.
Parks Makes SU Debut in Starting Lineup: Transfer Kourtney Parks made her regular season debut in the starting lineup on Nov. 13, versus UC Davis. The Bend, Ore. native scored four points and had a rebound in 18 minutes of action. Versus Concordia (Ore.), the following evening, she started and played 37 minutes. Parks crashed the boards consistently, for seven defensive rebounds, and had a steal.