Despite season-high scoring performances by Talisa Rhea (Juneau, Alaska) and Ashley Ward (Irvine, Calif.) and the ninth double-double of the season for Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.) that included a career-high rebounding effort, Seattle University could not prevent Pacific from scoring the game-winning basket as the Tigers pulled out an 81-79 overtime victory over the Redhawks Tuesday evening at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
Rhea scored the first basket of the overtime session, but Gena Johnson made back-to-back buckets to give Pacific the lead, 75-73. After Sowell's layup tied the game, Kendall Kenyon scored four straight points to give the Tigers a four-point advantage, but Seattle U cut that in half on two free throws from Daidra Brown (Seattle, Wash.).
Seattle U had two attempts to tie the game blocked by Pacific, but the Tigers could not extend the lead, and Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.) hit a jumper with 24 seconds left to pull the Redhawks into a 79-79 tie. Pacific did not call timeout, going right into its offense, and Ashley Wakefield drove the baseline and converted the game-winner with two seconds remaining.
Rhea finished with 28 points by shooting 10-of-17 from the field, including 4-of-6 from behind the three-point line, and 4-of-4 from the free throw line, plus she collected five steals. Ward was 8-of-11 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line to compile 20 points before she fouled out early in the overtime period. Sowell struggled to reach 10 points, but she pulled down a career-high 18 rebounds as the Redhawks won the rebounding battle, 41-38.
Ahead by three at halftime, Pacific (10-7) extended its lead to 10 points early in the second half thanks to a 12-5 scoring run, bookended by baskets from Wakefield. Seattle U scored six unanswered points to cut its deficit to four, but Pacific maintained its distance thanks to a three-pointer by Sam Pettinger to hold a 58-50 advantage with nine minutes left in the second half.
Seattle U scored seven straight points over the next two minutes to close to within one at 58-57, and that was followed by the two teams trading points. The Redhawks took their first lead since there was six minutes left in the first half when Sowell converted a layup to make the score 63-62, but the Tigers answered with a basket by Erica McKenzie to jump back in front, 64-63, with four minutes to go in regulation.
Rhea was fouled and made two free throws to give Seattle U another lead, and after a Pacific missed shot, Sowell hit another basket to put the Redhawks ahead by three at 67-64 with 2:41 remaining in the second half. Pacific's Gena Johnson made two free throws and had a chance to take the lead on the next possession, but Sowell blocked Johnson's shot attempt, leading to a basket by Kerfoot to put Seattle U back up by three, 69-66.
Wakefield drove the baseline and made the basket, but the Redhawks responded with a jumper from Ward. The Tigers came back down the court and pulled into a 71-71 tie with a three-pointer by McKenzie with 30.4 seconds left in regulation. Rhea missed a chance to give Seattle U the lead, and after the ball went out of bounds off the Redhawks, the Tigers' desperation shot to win the game was off-target, forcing overtime.
After Rhea hit a three-pointer to open the game, Pacific scored the next four points, but the Redhawks followed with a 12-2 scoring run, the last four Redhawk points scored by Rhea, to take a 15-6 lead. The Tigers scored the next six points to cut their deficit to three, but Rhea hit consecutive three-pointers to extend Seattle U's lead back to eight at 21-13.
Pacific stormed back late in the first half, outscoring Seattle U 18-10 over the final seven minutes to pull ahead, 36-33. Seattle U committed 14 first half turnovers that led to 17 Pacific points, plus the Tigers went 8-for-12 from the free throw line while Seattle U made only 1-of-2 attempts from the charity stripe before halftime.
Wakefield led Pacific with 18 points, while Johnson finished with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, four blocked shots, and three steals. Kenyon notched a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, plus she blocked three shots, and Kendall Rodriguez contributed 13 points and nine rebounds.
For the game, Seattle U shot 44.9 percent (31-of-69) from the field, including 5-of-13 from behind the three-point line, and 85.7 percent (12-of-14) from the free throw line. Pacific shot 46.3 percent (31-of-67) from the field, including 4-of-19 from behind the three-point arc, and 68.2 percent (15-of-22) from the free throw line.
Seattle University (11-8) will return home before leaving again for a contest at UC Irvine next Sunday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m. The Redhawks return to the Connolly Center Wednesday, Jan. 25, to face BYU starting at 7 p.m.