THE REDHAWKS RETURN HOME: In only their third game since the start of February, Seattle University returns home for the first time this month to face the Utah Valley Wolverines. Seattle U last faced Utah Valley on their home court during the 2010-11 season. The Redhawks look to come away with the win after winning seven of their last nine contests at home, despite falling to No. 23 BYU, 69-55, on Jan. 25.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Seattle University
G: #1 Sylvia Shephard - 5-10 - So.
G: #5 Elle Kerfoot - 5-7 - Sr.
G: #11 Talisa Rhea - 5-11 - Sr.
F: #14 Ashley Ward - 5-11 - So.
C: #41 Kacie Sowell - 6-2 - So.
THE PORTLAND STATE GAME: Despite Portland State taking the early advantage, jumping out to a 16-6 lead in the first seven minutes of the game, the Redhawks took the lead before halftime and never looked back in their 90-79 victory at the Stott Center in Portland, Ore. Sylvia Shepherd led all players with career high points (23) and rebounds (13). Shepherd shot 6-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-4 from behind the three-point line, and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. Elle Kerfoot added 17 points, including four three-pointers, as she became the 11th player in school history to score 1,000 career points. Talisa Rhea added 16 points and six assists and Brenda Adhiambo scored all 13 of her points after halftime. As a team, Seattle U shot 50.0 percent (29-of-58) from the field, 60.0 percent (9-for-15) from behind the three-point line, and 76.7 percent (23-for-30) from the free-throw line. The Redhawks held Portland State to only 46.8 percent (29-for-62) from the field and 43.8 percent (7-for-16) from behind the three-point line. Seattle U outrebounded Portland State, 42-28.
SCOUTING UTAH VALLEY: The Wolverines come into Saturday's game with a 12-11 record and hit the road for the first time in four games. Utah Valley split last weekend with a win and a loss, falling to NJIT, 48-46, on Feb. 9 and defeating Chicago State, 74-61, on Feb. 11. Utah Valley is scoring 60.8 points per game and giving up 61.9 points per contest. As a team, the Wolverines are shooting 37.9 percent from the field, including 27.5 percent from behind the three-point line, and 70.6 percent from the free-throw line. Sammie Jensen leads the team in scoring with 14.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Jenna Johnson is contributing 8.0 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game, while Whitney Jenkins is averaging 6.5 points per game, thanks in part to a team-high 25 steals.
SEATTLE U VS. UTAH VALLEY: Seattle U faced Utah Valley for the first time in program history on Jan. 15, 2010 on the Wolverines' home court. Utah Valley came away with the 74-64 win, as two Wolverines scored 20+ points. Three players finished with double-digit scoring figures for the Redhawks, including Salena Dickerson, who led the team with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Ashley Ward also added 13 points and six rebounds and Elle Kerfoot added 12 points and seven assists.
HONORS: College Sports Madness has named a Seattle University player the Independent Player of the Week seven times this season. Sophomore Kacie Sowell has picked up the honor four times: Nov. 28, Dec. 5, Jan. 3, and Feb. 6. Talisa Rhea has been a weekly honoree on Dec. 12 and Dec. 19 and Sylvia Shepherd received the honor Feb. 13. All three have also been named to the Jesuit Honor Roll by Jesuit Basketball Spotlight. Rhea picked up the recognition Dec. 19 after the Redhawks' victory over fellow Jesuit school Santa Clara, Sowell earned the honor Jan. 3 after her MVP performance in the Holiday Hoops Tournament, and Shepherd earned the honor Feb. 13 after her career high 23 points and 13 rebounds at Portland State.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: Kacie Sowell is fourth in the nation in field goal percentage, hitting 59.8 percent of her field goal attempts. By hitting 85.9 percent of her free throw attempts, Ashley Ward is 35th in Division I in free throw percentage, while Talisa Rhea is tied for 23rd in the country in assists per game (5.5).
THREE-POINT QUEEN: With a three-pointer in the first minute of the second half Jan. 14 against Chicago State, Elle Kerfoot became Seattle U's all-time leader in made three-pointers (181), passing the previous mark of 168 set by Ashley Payne from 2003 to 2007. On Feb. 9 at Portland State, Kerfoot became the 11th player in program history to score 1,000 career points.