QUICK TRIP BEFORE CHRISTMAS: Seattle University left early Tuesday morning for Little Rock, Ark., as it faces UALR Wednesday night in the last game before Christmas. UALR came to Seattle for the 2010 Seattle U Thanksgiving Tournament, and although the two teams did not play each other, the Redhawks are returning the trip this season. Seattle U hopes to get back on the winning track after a tough loss to Saint Mary's last Saturday.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
Seattle University
- G: #1 Sylvia Shephard - 5-10 - So. - 4.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.3 spg
- G: #5 Elle Kerfoot - 5-7 - Sr. - 9.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.1 apg
- G: #11 Talisa Rhea - 5-11 - Sr. - 13.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 5.6 apg
- F: #14 Ashley Ward - 5-11 - So. - 10.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 88.9% FT
- C: #41 Kacie Sowell - 6-2 - So. - 13.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 60.0% FG
University of Arkansas-Little Rock
- G: #2 Taylor Ford - 5-9 - So. - 3.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.9 apg
- G: #24 Taylor Gault - 5-8 - Fr. - 15.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.5 spg
- F: #31 Britteni Williams - 6-2 - Sr. - 2.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 52.6% FG
- F: #34 Janette Merriex - 5-10 - Jr. - 10.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 86.7% FT
- C: #54 Marian Kursh - 6-0 - Sr. - 13.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.3 spg
LAST TIME OUT: Seattle University could not hold onto an early lead, as Saint Mary's came back in the second half to defeat the Redhawks, 71-70, last Saturday at the Connolly Center in Seattle. Jasmine Smith hit a jumper with 15 seconds left to give the Gaels the lead, and Seattle U was unsuccessful in its last two attempts to score the winning basket. Brenda Adhiambo led the team with 16 points and five rebounds.
SCOUTING UALR: The Trojans come into Wednesday's game with a 3-8 overall record, having lost four straight games. The three victories have all come against Conference USA schools (Tulsa, Rice, Southern Mississippi). UALR is scoring 57.6 points per game and giving up 64.6 points per contest. As a team, the Trojans are shooting 39.8 percent from the field, including 35.4 percent from behind the three-point line, and 65.1 percent from the free throw line. Taylor Gault leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.2 points per game. Marian Kursh is second on the squad in scoring with 13.3 points per game, plus she leads the way in rebounding with 7.3 rebounds per game. Janette Merriex is also averaging in double figures in points with 10.1 points per game, and she is the team's top threat from long distance with 24 made three-pointers so far this season. This is the first meeting all-time between Seattle University and Arkansas-Little Rock.
RANKED NATIONALLY: As of Dec. 18, sophomore Kacie Sowell is ranked 12th in the country in field goal percentage, while classmate Ashley Ward is tied for 33rd in free throw percentage and senior Talisa Rhea is 19th 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 five games. Kacie Sowell has scored at least 10 points in all 11 games this season, while Talisa Rhea has reached double figures in six straight contests.