"This was a tough one and it was definitely a game of runs," said head coach Joan Bonvicini. "In the first half we did a good job of getting to the free throw line, but we never were able to establish a post presence."
Salena Dickerson (Federal Way, Wash.) opened up scoring action for SU with five straight points to give Seattle U an early 5-2 lead.
Dickerson would go on to score 10 points and grab six rebounds in 33 minutes of action.
The Cougars were able to respond with a 6-0 run, until Daidra Brown (Seattle, Wash.) grabbed a steal and brought the ball down the lane to make it an 8-7 game at 12:33.
After not scoring for nearly two minutes, a pair of free throws from Ashley Ward (Irvine, Calif.) and a Brown layin would make it a 14-11 game with 9:21 to play.
Brown would consistently provide the overall lift in play for SU. With just over five to play, she had her second steal of the game and drove the ball down the lane to make it a one-point contest, 21-20, in favor of SIUE.
The Redhawks continued to play inconsistently on the offensive end, missing scoring opportunities. During that time, the Cougars were able to extend their early lead to as high as seven.
Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.) kept the Redhawks within reach of the lead, 21-16, posting up a quick seven foot jumper at 6:18.
The junior point guard scored a team-leading 15 points, for her 13th straight double figure game. She also had four boards, a pair of assists and a steal.
At 1:39, Ward evened the score, 25-25, with a last second basket. The Redhawk freshman showed a lot of composure, receiving the ball with seconds left on the shot clock and managed to get up a five foot jumper near the charity stripe.
SIU Edwardsville would go into halftime holding a one-point lead, 26-25.
Opening up the second half, SU would continue to battle for the lead. The Cougars managed to hold onto their one-point advantage until Carley Butcher (Pitt Meadows, B.C.) dumped in a layin off a Kerfoot assist. The Redhawks, 30-29, lead was short lived; as SIUE would garner as high as an eight-point lead at 13:41.
The Cougars maintained the game pace working inside the 10-minute mark, continuing to take advantage of SU's inconsistent shooting. Off a Jazmin Hill basket, Edwardsville took their largest lead of the game, 47-36, at 7:59.
Despite the double figure deficit, SU would pick up their play by going on a 9-0 run.
At 5:04, Kerfoot slammed in a three from the corner to make it a one-point game for the 11th time.
In the final minute of play, SIUE held a 51-48 lead. Brown would grab down a defensive rebound and push the ball down the floor to Ward. Ward would miss her shot opportunity, but Brown was there to get the board and put up a quick layin at 1:19.
With 16 seconds to go, Brown again got the ball and drove it to the basket. Her shot landed in, but she was called with a charge to send the Cougars to the line to seal SIUE's victory.
Brown finished with 10 points, six rebounds and a pair of steals in 28 bench minutes.
The Redhawks shot 38.8 percent (19-for-49) from the field to Edwardsville's 34.5 percent (20-for-58). SU also outrebounded SIUE 35 to 33, but SIUE managed to score 10 points off of second chance opportunities.
"We were down one at halftime, but I don't think we came out really strong. Defensively, we had some missed assignments, which they were able to take advantage of and hold onto the lead to the end," concluded Bonvicini.
Seattle U will conclude the 2010-11 season on Sunday, Mar. 6, with Longwood. First tip is set for 11 a.m. PT.