GOING BACK TO CALI, AGAIN: Seattle University made it back to snowy Seattle Wednesday after Tuesday night's game at Pacific. After seeing snow and ice pile up over the past few days, the Redhawks are welcoming another trip to California, this time heading to Orange County to face the UC Irvine Anteaters Sunday afternoon. Both teams have been playing well over the past couple of weeks, making this a compelling matchup.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Seattle University
- G: #1 Sylvia Shephard - 5-10 - So. - 6.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.3 spg
- G: #5 Elle Kerfoot - 5-7 - Sr. - 8.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.0 apg
- G: #11 Talisa Rhea - 5-11 - Sr. - 14.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.5 apg
- F: #14 Ashley Ward - 5-11 - So. - 10.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 85.1% FT
- C: #41 Kacie Sowell - 6-2 - So. - 13.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 60.0% FG
THE PACIFIC GAME: 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. Talisa Rhea scored the first basket of the overtime session, but Gena Johnson made back-to-back buckets to give Pacific the lead. Elle Kerfoot 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. Ashley 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. Kacie Sowell struggled to reach 10 points, but she pulled down a career-high 18 rebounds as the Redhawks won the rebounding battle, 41-38.
SCOUTING UC IRVINE: The Anteaters come into Sunday's game with a 9-10 overall record, but they have won five straight games, including a 73-68 victory over Cal State Fullerton Wednesday night. UC Irvine is scoring 65.3 points per game and giving up 67.9 points per contest. As a team, the Anteaters are shooting 40.9 percent from the field, including 28.1 percent from behind the three-point line, and 63.6 percent from the free throw line. Kassandra McCalister leads the team with 11.6 points and 4.3 assists per game. Jazmyne White is contributing 9.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
SEATTLE U VS. UC IRVINE: This is the second meeting all-time between Seattle U and UC Irvine. These teams met last season at the Connolly Center in Seattle, with UC Irvine earning a 69-55 victory Dec. 13, 2010. Ashley Ward led the Redhawks with 11 points and seven rebouonds, while Sylvia Shephard also scored 11 points. Mikah Maly-Karros notched a double-double for UC Irvine with 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Kiara Belen scored 16 points. Seattle U made only one of 18 three-point attempts and committed 27 turnovers that led to 35 UC Irvine points.