The Seattle University women's basketball team hung with 23rd-ranked BYU for a while, but solid offense by the Cougars as well as tough shooting night for the Redhawks led to a 69-55 BYU victory Wednesday night at the Connolly Center.
Ashley Ward (Irvine, Calif.) continued her offensive roll, leading all players with 18 points, including 13 points in the first half to keep the Redhawks within striking distance. Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.) notched her 10th double-double of the season with 15 points and 16 rebounds, 10 of those offensive boards, while Talisa Rhea (Juneau, Alaska) added 11 points to the Redhawk effort.
Two baskets by Ward helped Seattle U take an early 6-3 lead before seven straight points by BYU, led by a three-pointer and a layup from Kim Parker, gave the Cougars a 10-6 advantage. Two free throws by Rhea brought the Redhawks within one at 11-10, but consecutive three-pointers by Stephanie Vermunt started an 8-0 Cougar run that increased BYU's lead to 19-10 halfway through the first half.
Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.) hit a three-pointer to bring the Redhawks within five at 25-20 with 5:33 left in the first half, but Parker answered with her own three-pointer, starting an 11-2 Cougar run over the last five minutes that put BYU ahead at halftime, 36-22. Kerfoot's three-pointer was the only field goal any Seattle U player made in the first half other than Ward, plus Seattle U committed 11 turnovers before halftime.
A jumper by Kristen Riley and another three-pointer from Parker extended BYU's lead to 19 points at 41-22, and the margin stayed around that number for the majority of the second half. Down by 22 with 6:19 left in regulation, Seattle U battled back, outscoring BYU 12-4 the rest of the way, led by Sowell with six points in the final three-and-a-half minutes.
"BYU is a really good team, but we played very tentative through a good portion of the game. It wasn't until late in the second half when we started loosening up and playing much more aggressively," Seattle U head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "Ashley has played well, especially offensively, as of late, and Kacie rebounded really well. We just let them shoot too many open threes, but for us we did not play with the same confidence. I liked the way we ended the game, but I did not like the majority of it."
BYU (19-3) was led by Riley, who notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Parker hit three three-pointers on her way to a 15-point effort, and Vermunt nailed four shots from long distance as part of her 14-point output. Jennifer Hamson used her height to bother the Redhawks, as the 6-7 player finished with nine points, seven rebounds, and six blocked shots.
As a team, Seattle U shot just 28.6 percent (18-of-63) from the field, including 5-of-23 from behind the three-point line. BYU shot 50 percent (27-of-54) from the field, including 8-of-19 from the free throw line. However, the Redhawks won the rebounding battle, 39-38, including 19 offensive boards, and committed only two turnovers after halftime.
Seattle University (12-9) will have a week to prepare for UW Milwaukee, as the Redhawks head to the Midwest to face the Panthers next Wednesday, Feb. 1, beginning at 7 p.m. local time (5 p.m. Pacific Time). The Redhawks' next home game is Saturday, Feb. 18, against Utah Valley starting at 4 p.m. at the Connolly Center.