Overcoming a slow start, the Seattle University women's basketball team extended its winning streak to three games with an 80-72 victory over the Idaho Vandals Thursday evening at the Cowan Spectrum.
Five players scored in double figures for Seattle U, led by Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.) with 17 points and eight rebounds. Talisa Rhea (Juneau, Alaska) finished with 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals, while Ashley Ward (Irvine, Calif.) earned 12 points and five rebounds, Sylvia Shephard (Alta Loma, Calif.) contributed 11 points, six rebounds, and three steals, and Daidra Brown (Seattle, Wash.) came off the bench and added 10 points.
Idaho (5-11) jumped out to a 17-2 lead in the first seven minutes of the game, thanks in part to two three-pointers by Stacey Barr. Down by 11 with 7:40 left in the first half, Seattle U chipped away at the Vandal lead, going on a 10-2 run over the next three minutes to close the gap to three at 28-25. The Redhawks took their first lead of the game on a layup by Sowell with three minutes left in the half, but a traditional three-point play by Alyssa Charlston helped Idaho regain the advantage at halftime, 42-41.
Barr hit two more three-pointers within the first six minutes of the second half as the Vandals extended their lead to 61-54, but back-to-back three-pointers by Elle Kerfoot (Surrey, B.C.) and Ward, plus a free throw by Ward, pulled the Redhawks into a 61-61 tie halfway through the second half. Charlston and Ganeaya Rogers combined to score Idaho's next six points to put the Vandals back on top, 67-63, but Seattle U scored 10 unanswered points, half of them by Shephard, to take the lead for good.
Seattle U won the rebounding battle, 46-29, including 22 offensive boards that led to 27 second chance points. The Redhawks shot 40.6 percent (28-of-69) from the field and 72.0 percent (18-of-25) from the free throw line while committing only 13 turnovers. Although Idaho shot 50 percent (27-of-54) from the field, including 10 made three-pointers, the Vandals committed 20 turnovers and reached the free throw line only 13 times.
Charlston shot 10-of-11 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line to lead all players with 26 points, while Barr hit five three-pointers in the game on her way to a 21-point performance. Ashley Walters started the game for Idaho and blocked four shots, but ended up with no points and two rebounds in 10 minutes on the court.
Seattle University (9-6) comes back home and welcomes Colorado State to the Connolly Center this Sunday, Jan. 8, for a 12 noon contest.