COMPLETION OF HOMESTAND: Seattle University completes its three-game homestand against West Coast Conference schools Saturday afternoon against Saint Mary's College. The Redhawks have won four straight games and five of their last six contests heading into the weekend game, while the Gaels have won three of their last four games. Saint Mary's hits the road for the first time since mid-November after playing six straight home games.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
Seattle University
- G: #1 Sylvia Shephard - 5-10 - So. - 4.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.3 spg
- G: #5 Elle Kerfoot - 5-7 - Sr. - 9.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.2 apg
- G: #11 Talisa Rhea - 5-11 - Sr. - 13.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 5.6 apg
- F: #14 Ashley Ward - 5-11 - So. - 11.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 87.8% FT
- C: #41 Kacie Sowell - 6-2 - So. - 13.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 59.3% FG
Saint Mary's College
- G: #3 Jackie Nared - 6-1 - So. - 11.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.4 spg
- G: #5 Alex Carbonel - 5-6 - Sr.- 7.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.2 apg
- G: #32 Jasmine Smith - 5-8 - Sr. - 15.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.8 spg
- F: #25 Carli Rosenthal - 6-3 - Fr. - 5.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 51.5% FG
- F: #54 Danielle Mauldin - 6-0 - So. - 8.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.0 spg
LAST TIME OUT: Seattle University jumped out to a 15-2 advantage five minutes into the game and maintained the pressure the rest of the way for an 80-62 victory over Santa Clara Tuesday night at the Connolly Center. Talisa Rhea led the way with 19 points and seven assists, while Elle Kerfoot finished with 13 points and eight assists. Brenda Adhiambo came off the bench and added 12 points and nine rebounds.
SCOUTING SAINT MARY'S: The Gaels come into Saturday's game with a 6-4 overall record after defeating UC Davis a week ago in Moraga, 75-58. Saint Mary's is scoring 65.9 points per game and giving up 63.3 points per contest. As a team, the Gaels are shooting 38.5 percent from the field, including 28.0 percent from behind the three-point line, and 77.2 percent from the free throw line. Saint Mary's is 18th in the country in free throw percentage. Jasmine Smith leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.0 points per game, plus she has 18 steals and an .867 free throw percentage. Jackie Nared is contributing 11.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, with Danielle Mauldin adding 8.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
SEATTLE U VS. SAINT MARY'S: This will be the third meeting all-time between Seattle University and Saint Mary's, with the Gaels winning both previous meetings. On Dec. 14, 2009, Saint Mary's defeated Seattle U at the Connolly Center in Seattle, 63-56. Ashley Brown and Tatiana Heck led the Redhawks with 15 points apiece, while Louella Tomlinson paced the Gaels with 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and six blocked shots. Saint Mary's also won last season's meeting on Dec. 21, 2010, in Moraga, 80-64. Sylvia Shephard led the Redhawks with 19 points, seven rebounds, and five steals, while Tomlinson notched a triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots.
JOINING THE WAC: Seattle University is in its final year as a Division I independent before officially joining the Western Athletic Conference July 1, 2012. The Redhawks will be part of the WAC in 17 of the 19 sports offered at Seattle U, with men's soccer and men's swimming staying in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. As of right now, Seattle U will face the following schools in conference play beginning next season: Denver, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Texas-Arlington, Texas-San Antonio, Texas State, and Utah State. Boise State will be rejoining the WAC as a non-football member in July 2013.
WEBSITE HONORS: College Sports Madness has named a Seattle University player the Independent Player of the Week three straight times. Sophomore Kacie Sowell picked up the honor on Nov. 28 and Dec. 5. She helped the Redhawks to a second-place finish in the Seattle U Thanksgiving Tournament, followed by victories over Long Beach State and Boise State the following week. This past Monday, senior Talisa Rhea received the weekly honor after a solid all-around game against Portland in which she finished with 11 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
RANKED NATIONALLY: As of Dec. 11, sophomore Kacie Sowell is ranked 14th in the country in field goal percentage, while classmate Ashley Ward is tied for 34th in free throw percentage and senior Talisa Rhea is tied for 27th in assists per game.
DOUBLE FIGURE SCORERS: The Redhawks have tallied four or more players to score in double digits in each of their last four games, all Seattle U victories. Kacie Sowell has scored at least 10 points in all 10 games this season, while Talisa Rhea has reached double figures in five straight contests and Elle Kerfoot has hit double digits in scoring in the last three games.
SEATTLE U THANKSGIVING TOURNAMENT: Senior Elle Kerfoot and sophomore Ashley Ward were named to the All-Seattle U Thanksgiving Tournament Team for their contributions in the two-day tourney. Ward tallied 14 points in each game over the weekend, while Kerfoot posted a season-high 19 points on Nov. 25 against USF. For the second consecutive season, the Redhawks fell in the championship game of their annual Thanksgiving tournament.
REDHAWKS SIGN THREE TO NLIs: Seattle U signed three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Joining the Redhawks for the 2012-13 campaign are: Catherine "Cat" Perez (Palo Alto, Calif.), Taelor Ross (Portland, Ore.), and Kristin Stoffel (Everett, Wash.). The incoming class of 2016 boasts a trio of versatile players who are all over six feet tall.
2011-12 TEAM GUIDE: Get to know the 2011-12 Redhawks in this season's Seattle U Women's Basketball Team Guide Magazine. To view the online guide: http://bit.ly/ttmVKn.
ROSTER UPDATE: Monique Abbs has transferred to South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Ariz. It was a mutual decision between Monique and Coach Bonvicini, and Coach Bonvicini wishes Monique the best of luck at her new school. Meanwhile, Carley Butcher and Kim Flournoy will miss the 2011-12 season due to injury.
THE CAPTAINS: Seniors Elle Kerfoot and Talisa Rhea have been selected as co-captains for the 2011-12 season. Kerfoot has earned the designation for the second consecutive year.