"I really liked our defensive intensity, the way we rebounded and the way we ran," said head coach Joan Bonvicini. "I think we have the potential to be a good team. Our new players did a very nice job. I think we let down a little bit in the last minutes of the game, but overall we did a pretty good job for our first game."
Seattle U had four players average in double figures, with newcomers Salena Dickerson (Federal Way, Wash.) and Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.) posting double-doubles. Senior Dickerson had 13 points and 10 boards, while freshman Sowell had 11 points and a team-leading 12 rebounds. Sophomore transfer Daidra Brown (Seattle, Wash.) led the team with 15 points, going 5-for-8 from the field. The Redhawk newcomers combined for 61 points in the game.
"I liked how hard we played and our competitiveness, and we are much improved from a year ago," commented Bonvicini. "I am proud of our newcomers for their performances tonight. Salena was really quick off the ball and Kacie is a double-double player."
The Redhawks showcased their new look immediately. Senior Tatiana Heck (Lynnwood, Wash.) got the tip, which resulted in a game-opening layup from newcomer Amani Butler (Corona, Calif.). Bulter was fouled on the play, but was unable to covert her free throw, but Dickerson got the rebound and went on to put together back-to-back drives to the basket. The Redhawks took off on an immediate 9-0 run, setting up a faced paced tempo that the Urban Knights struggled to keep up with.
Things were in sync for SU, as the Redhawks picked up each other when the AAU defense attempted to set up traps and double teamed the player with the ball. After going on a 13-0 run in under three minutes of action, Academy of Art was able to convert one of their free throw opportunities to get on the board for the first time from Alisa Griggs. The Knights' Madeline Houston followed that with a three-pointer, but Seattle U responded behind the freshmen tandem of Sylvia Shephard (Alta Loma, Calif.) and Sowell, who combined for four points.
Midway through the first half, Academy of Art attempted to push the pace of play. Despite their efforts SU remained composed and continued to regulate the tempo. With less than 12 minutes remaining the half, SU had outrebounded AAU 18-4 to make 12 second chance points.
The squad, who saw action from all six eligible newcomers, began to gel as play progressed. Set plays became much more fluid and baskets began to sink on first attempts. The Redhawks showcased this when Dickerson sent in a half court pass to Butler in the corner. Butler took a dribble and found a driving Heck, to take a 30-8 lead with just over nine minutes to go in the first half.
Ashley Ward (Irvine, Calif.) got in the mix, stealing the ball from an Urban Knight player and driving it down the lane for her first points of the game. The Redhawk rookie found her groove as the half ticked to halftime, to add consecutive baskets. Classmate Sowell stood out, as she played like an experienced college player, successfully using her size at the post.
SU established a 20 point lead in the final minutes of play in the first half. At 1:03 AAU committed a technical foul for too many players on the floor. Senior Julee Christianson (Missoula, Mont.) took the free throws and extended the Redhawks lead to 22 points. Academy of Art made it a 20 point game with a layup, but Brown sent in SU into halftime with a 47-24 lead behind her half court shot with milliseconds left on the clock.
In the second half, Academy of Art attempted to chip away at Seattle U's sizeable lead, but SU continued to find a way to get points on the board. The offensive mix of newcomers and veterans complimented each other, as the Redhawks held a 31 point advantage with 15:54 remaining in regulation.
As play progressed in the second half the fresh faces in the SU lineup continued to work well with the returners. Brown and Sowell combined for a solid pair at guard and post, respectively. Like the Brown-Sowell connection, transfer redshirts from last season Butler and Dickerson seemed to find a rhythm on the floor with one another. Guard Butler sent in several passes to the forward Dickerson, which she was able to convert into points for Seattle U.
The Redhawks maintained their sizeable lead throughout the remainder of the second half. They saw their lead reach as high as 36, when they held a 71-35 advantage with 10:20 left in the game. Seattle U was also able to stay dominate in the paint, where they made 22 points in the half.
In the contest, SU was 45.2 percent from the field, making 50 of their points in the paint. They outscored AAU 35-10 in points off turnovers and had 12 fast break baskets. Seattle U tallied 53 rebounds in the game, 25 of them on the offensive end of the court, where they were able to put up 24 second chance points.
"We have things to correct. I think we need to clean up a few things and get a little more movement on our offense, but I think we are going to be a competitive team," concluded Bonvicini.
Seattle U will kick off the regular season on Friday, Nov. 12, in a 7 p.m. game versus Cal Poly in the Connolly Center on the SU campus.