Despite keeping the game within reach and a second half surge, the Seattle University women's basketball team fell short to Cal State Fullerton Sunday afternoon. The Redhawks dropped a 63-58 decision to the Titans, falling to 0-2 on the season.
"I thought it was a big improvement from Friday," said head coach Joan Bonvicini. "We executed better; I thought our posts did a very good job underneath and we did a very good job rebounding. We just need to play smarter down the stretch, which was what it was today. We had some turnovers and didn't make good decisions. There are no moral victories here and we need to win. We need to show that we are a better offensive team."
The first half saw the Redhawks go up by two to kickoff the game, but it was the Titans who were able to get the point advantage on their following offensive drives. After conceding the lead early, Seattle U battled to regain it, tying the game nine times in the first half.
With less than six minutes left in the half, CSUF began to play a tight man-on-man defense, which SU adjusted to well. Freshman Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.) made it an 18-18 game at 5:39, but as they did throughout the half, the Titans immediately responded to reestablish their slight point advantage. Two minutes later, Fullerton held a 21-18 lead, but Amani Butler (Corona, Calif.) made it a one point game with her offensive rebound and layup.
Butler's offensive power would keep the Redhawks from giving up a sizeable lead to CSUF. She would go onto score six of SU's final 11 points in the half to send Seattle U into halftime down 31-29.
Following halftime, SU hastened their pace on the ball. Despite their aggressiveness, the Redhawks were unable to translate it into points. Conversely, Fullerton steadily grew their lead, taking a 37-31 advantage with 17 minutes left in regulation. Butler continued to be an all around threat for the Redhawks and made it a four point game by making a pair of free throws.
She would go on to be the team's second leading scorer with 12 points. She was nearly perfect from the charity stripe, going 6-for-8, and had seven boards, two assists and a steal in 28 minutes of work.
With the lead in sight Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.) slammed in a three-pointer to make it a one point game, but the Titans were able to respond on their next opportunity and retook their two possession advantage and grew their lead to seven. At the 15 minute mark Daidra Brown (Seattle, Wash.), who made her starting debut in the game, and Sowell worked to keep it a five point game, behind a pair of layups.
On the other end of the court, down 45-40, the Seattle U defense kept the Titans off the board for over four minutes. During that stretch of time, Brown made it a three point game, but the Redhawks were unable to take full advantage of their defensive efforts and garner the lead.
As the game ticked under the 10 minute mark, the Titans were able to add to their lead, but the Redhawks continued to battle. At 6:13, Tatiana Heck (Lynwood, Wash.) made it a one point game, 51-50, and a quick pass from a driving Brown to Butler gave the Redhawks their first lead of the second half, 52-51, at the 5:44 minute mark.
A blocking foul on CSUF's Richardson then sent Kerfoot to the line, where she made it a two possession game in favor of the Redhawks. The Titans responded and came within one heading into the three minute mark and Lynsey Grove followed by sinking in a three-pointer to give Fullerton a two point lead.
CSUF would be able maintain their point advantage in the final minute of regulation to improve to 1-1 on the season.
Heck was the Redhawks leading scorer in the contest, scoring 14 points, while making three boards. Sowell had her first career double-double, posting 10 points and a team-leading 13 rebounds. SU outrebounded Cal State Fullerton 43-34, making 21 offensive boards.
Seattle U will take to the road for their next pair of contests, playing at UC Riverside in a 2 p.m. game on Friday, Nov. 19, and closing out their California road swing at the University of San Diego on Sunday, Nov. 21, in a 2 p.m. contest.