Ashley Ward (Irvine, Calif.) hit three free throws with 34 seconds left in regulation as Seattle University once again came from behind, this time winning the 2011 Washington Dental Service Holiday Hoops Tournament with a 75-72 victory over Eastern Michigan Friday afternoon at KeyArena.
A traditional three-point play by Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.) gave Seattle U a 58-50 lead eight minutes into the second half, but Olivia Fouty and Tavelyn James scored six points apiece during a 12-0 Eastern Michigan run that gave the Eagles a 62-58 lead with 7:23 left in the second half. Down by five, the Redhawks pulled back into a 68-68 tie with 3:45 left in regulation thanks to a jumper by Ward and a three-pointer from Talisa Rhea (Juneau, Alaska).
With the game tied at 70-70, James hit a basket with 58 seconds remaining to put the Eagles ahead, but Ward was able to draw a foul while attempting a three-point basket. Ward, the leading free throw shooter on the team at 88.2 percent coming into the game, made all three foul shots to give the Redhawks the advantage. Fouty missed a jumper, and Sylvia Shephard (Alta Loma, Calif.) helped put the game away for the second straight day by making two late free throws.
Bookended by layups from James, Eastern Michigan scored the first 10 points of the game, but Seattle U responded with an 11-2 run of its own. After layups by Natachia Watkins and India Hairston gave the Eagles a 22-19 advantage, Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.) hit three three-pointers and Rhea followed with one of her own as the Redhawks pulled ahead at halftime, 38-34.
Kerfoot led the Redhawks with 17 points and four steals, while Rhea, a member of the All-Tournament Team, earned 16 points and seven assists. Sowell was voted the tournament's Most Valuable Player after notching her second double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Shephard contributed 13 points and six rebounds to the winning effort.
Eastern Michigan (7-5) was led by Watkins with 22 points and Fouty with 18 points and seven rebounds. James earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team after collecting 12 points and four steals, and Desyree Thomas added six points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals. The Eagles missed all seven three-point attempts, but they did win the rebounding battle, 37-31, including 21 offensive rebounds that led to 18 second chance points.
Seattle U shot 55.6 percent (25-of-45) from the field, including 9-of-19 from the three-point line, and 72.7 percent (16-of-22) from the free throw line. The Redhawks hurt themselves with 28 turnovers that led to 30 Eagle points.
In the third place game of the 2011 Washington Dental Service Holiday Hoops Tournament, Saint Louis held on for a 66-63 victory over Saint Francis. Jacy Bradley, a member of the All-Tournament Team, led the Billikens with 24 points, while Courtney Webb scored 14 points, eight of them during a 10-3 run late in the second half that gave Saint Louis the lead for good. Alli Williams, also earning All-Tournament honors, led Saint Francis with 15 points, with Nickia Gibbs contributing 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Seattle University (8-6) will travel to Moscow, Idaho, to face the Idaho Vandals, a future Western Athletic Conference foe, Thursday, Jan. 5, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Redhawks then return to the Connolly Center Sunday, Jan. 8, to face Colorado State starting at 12 noon.