"We are still a work in progress, but I saw a much, much improved team who is hard working and (had) good decision making," said head coach Joan Bonvicini. "It was a very good game from start to finish."
For the third consecutive contest junior point guard Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.) scored in double-figures and led the Redhawk offense. She had 16 points, including three three-pointers, six rebounds, three assists and a steal in 36 minutes of work. Salena Dickerson (Federal Way, Wash.) also had 16 points in the game, for her second double-digit scoring night of the season.
The Redhawks offense came out much more in sync to kick off the game and Kerfoot put SU on the board early with a clear behind the arc basket. Kerfoot's trey would ignite an 8-0 SU run until the 15:10 minute mark when Montana State's coach called a timeout.
Seattle U was dominate on offense early and moved the ball around fluidly. They did not let Montana State get on the board until Katie Bussey made a three-pointer nearly six minutes into the contest. Up 10-3 as the clocked ticked below the 13 minute mark, Carley Butcher (Pitt Meadows, B.C.) came off the bench and immediately made it a 12-3 contest.
Butcher would go on to have her best performance of the young season, going 4-for-7 from the field to score eight points. She also had three steals and two defensive boards in 18 minutes of action.
Montana State began to counter the Redhawks early attack, making it a four point contest inside 12 minutes in the first half of regulation. MSU would then go on an 8-0 run of their own. They kept SU off the board for the next six minutes until Dickerson broke the scoring drought and tied the game at 14-14 with a pair of baskets from the free throw line.
Inside six minutes in the first half, Dickerson reestablished the Redhawk lead with a jumper, but MSU's Lyndi Seidensticker countered and tied the game again. Kerfoot sent up a three-pointer, but missed and Daidra Brown (Seattle, Wash.) was there to get the offensive board and make the layup.
With two minutes left in the first half, SU held an 18-17 advantage, but Montana State's Seidensticker took a one point Bobcat lead. It was then countered with a Julee Christianson (Missoula, Mont.) three-pointer and Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.) added three points of her own, as she was fouled on her layup and sent in her charity stripe basket. Sowell's points would send the Redhawks into the locker room up 24-19. It was the first time this season Seattle U held the lead going into halftime.
Following intermission Montana State got on the board first with a three-pointer from Bussey and Rachel Semansky evened the game at 24-24 with a jumper. SU's Brown retook the lead with a basket, but the Bobcats were again able to counter again. Dickerson responded with behind the arc basket to make it a three point game at 17:46.
With 16 minutes left in the game Kerfoot fed the ball inside to Tatiana Heck (Lynnwood, Wash.), who made it a four possession contest, 31-28. The Redhawks were unable extend their lead before the Bobcats tied it up at 31-31, but a Butcher drive to the basket and three from Brown gave Seattle U a five point lead.
Following a Montana State timeout, Kerfoot drained her second three-pointer at 12:46. A basket from MSU on their next possession was quickly countered with a Butcher lane shot, for her second jumper in as many minutes. With 11 minutes remaining in regulation, SU led 41-35.
Amani Butler (Corona, Calif.) added her first point of the game with a basket from the charity stripe, while Montana State made it a two possession contest as the nine minute mark approached, 42-38.
With 8:26 left, Ashley Ward (Irvine, Calif.) grabbed down an offensive board and sent in her first basket of the contest and Butcher followed on SU's next possession with a five-footer. Holding MSU's offense off the board, SU would continue to add to their lead when Brown sent in the ball to Dickerson, who was in the post, to make it a 48-40 game. The Bobcat bench then called a timeout to try to slow down the Seattle U offensive momentum, but it was Kerfoot who made it a 10 point game with a pair of baskets from the free throw line with less than seven minutes to go. The Redhawks scored 10 consecutive points in just over three minutes of action.
Following the timeout, Montana State's Banis and Ally Schmitt added back-to-back baskets to make it a six point game heading into the five minute mark. The Bobcat consecutive points were countered by back-to-back baskets from Dickerson, who made it a 54-46 game with 3:44 left.
A pair of free throws from Sowell continued SU's offensive run and Kerfoot found clearance at the top of the key to make it a nine point contest as the game headed into the two minute stretch. She would go onto make an acrobatic drive on the Redhawks next possession to give SU their second double-figure lead, 61-51.
The Bobcats countered on their next offensive opportunity with Bussey being sent to the line and making both her charity stripe baskets. With 1:20 left, Kerfoot, who had an all around solid game, fed in her third assist of the game to Heck to retake their 10 point advantage. With the momentum on their side, SU would be able to ride out the final minute of the game and earn their first win.
The Redhawks had their best performance of the season in the second half, shooting 51.7 percent (15-for-29) from the field, 50 percent (4-for-8) from the behind the arc and 80 percent (8-for-10) from the charity stripe.
In the game, SU shot 38.1 percent (24-for-63) from the field, seeing much success from the free throw line where they were 70.6 percent (12-for-17). They scored 24 points in the paint, 13 off of turnovers and 15 points on second chance attempts. They forced 18 turnovers on Montana State, who was 36.2 percent (21-for-58) from the field. The only statistical category they trailed in was rebounds, which the Bobcats outrebounded the Redhawks 45-39.
Seattle U advances to the championship game of their Thanksgiving Tournament. They will take on Bowling Green at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 27. UALR and Montana State will play in the consolation game at 6 p.m. prior to tournament finale.