“We’re getting better every game,” said head coach Joan Bonvicini. “We are young and we have a lot of freshmen and sophomores. But with the experience of our upperclassmen, we’re finally starting to put things together. The first thing we did really well today was play defense; we achieved our defensive goal, which was holding them under 35 percent [from the field], and we did a good job on the boards. Another thing we pride ourselves on is assists, we had 25 assists tonight. And we shot 51 percent from the field, I’ll take that.”
Ross gave the Redhawks the early lead on a layup a minute into the contest and Sylvia Shephard (Alta Loma, Calif.) extended the 4-0 opening lead on a fastbreak layup just a minute later.
AJ Jordan and Katelyn Connor would tie the score on a jumper and following layup, but Kristin Stoffel (Mill Creek, Wash.) and Ross would combine for an 8-0 run over the next four and a half minutes to lead, 12-4.
Megan Pittman and Kaylee Best (Seattle, Wash.) would trade layups as the Redhawks would maintain an eight point lead, 14-6, at the 12 minute mark of the first half.
Ashley Ward (Irvine, Calif.) put Seattle U ahead by double digits, 16-6, on a pair of free throws and a 5-0 Redhawk run with contributions from three different Redhawks would give SU the 21-9 lead at 8:45.
A Karsen Sims jumper at 8:30 and a following layup by Angelica Henry 30 seconds later brought the Chanticleers within eight, 21-13, but an overall 8-2 Seattle U run capped by a Shephard layup at 5:31 put SU ahead, 28-16.
Pittman hit two straight three’s to bring Coastal Carolina back within eight, 30-22, at 4:55, but Shephard put Seattle U back ahead by 10, 32-22, on a pair of free throws at 4:11.
On a 6-2 run starting at the 3:25 mark, capped off by layups by Alexis Montgomery (Beaverton, Ore.) and Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.), Seattle U led again by 12, 38-26, with 41 seconds left in the half.
The Chanticleers would add five straight on a pair of Pittman free throws and a buzzer beater three-pointer by Henry as the Redhawks held on to a seven point lead, 38-31, at the half.
Seattle U opened up the second half with a 7-2 run over the first two minutes to lead, 45-34, before a pair of Coastal Carolina jumpers brought the Chanticleers back within seven, 45-38, at 17:28.
A three by Shephard put the Redhawks back ahead by double digits, 50-40, at 14:31 before Afunugo and Henry traded layups.
Henry made both free throws at 12:36 before Alexx Puckett drove in a layup to put Coastal Carolina within nine, 55-46, but Montgomery hit a three and Ross added a pair of layups to gain a 62-50 Redhawk lead with 10 minutes left in the contest. Montgomery and Ross would extend the SU lead, 66-50, on back-to-back layups near the eight minute mark.
Seattle U would take their first 20-point lead, 72-52, with 6:11 left in the game on back-to-back three’s by Best and Shephard and SU would extend their lead out to as many as 30, 82-52, in the next three minutes on a 10-0 Redhawk run.
At 2:58, Savanah Pippin hit a free throw but a final layup by Afunugo would give Seattle U the 31-point win, 84-53.
Ross led Seattle U with a career-high 18 points while Shephard and Ward also scored in double figures, contributing 16 and 12, respectively, and Afunugo scored a career-high nine points. Henry and Pittman led the Chanticleers with 12 points apiece.
Seattle U led from the field, shooting 51.5 percent to Coastal Carolina’s 32.8 percent, as well as from behind the three-point line (42.9 percent to 28.6 percent). From the free-throw line, the two teams were nearly even, as the Chanticleers narrowly outshot the Redhawks, 68.8 percent-66.7 percent. SU also outrebounded CC, 41-36, and recorded 25 assists.
Seattle U (2-4) is set to face Cornell (4-2) in the Delta Dental Thanksgiving Tournament Championship Game on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. PT. Drake and Coastal Carolina will face in the Consolation game at 4 p.m. PT. An all-tournament team and MVP will be announced following the Championship game.