Seattle University women’s basketball (3-5) took the lead several times in the second half versus Oregon (5-2), but the Ducks came away with the win behind a 41-point performance by Chrishae Rowe. This is the first 100-point performance for Seattle U versus a Division I opponent since reclassifying to NCAA Division I.
“I thought that, after the first 10 minutes, that was the best 30 minutes we’ve played all year,” said head coach Joan Bonvicini. “We gained a lot of confidence in this game and became a better team. Hats off to Oregon, they have a good team.”
Oregon scored the opening seven points, initiated by a three-pointer by Katelyn Loper, and jumped out to a 20-point lead, 26-6, by the 13:31 mark. Taelor Ross (Vancouver, Wash.) responded with a jumper, but Rowe added a layup and a three-point play off a jumper to put the Ducks back ahead by 23, 31-8, at 11:39.
Over the next two minutes, the Redhawks closed the margin to 13, 31-18, by 9:29, on a pair of layups by Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.) and a layup and jumper by Ross, but Oregon re-extended their lead back to 18, 38-20, by 6:57.
Masha Shtikel (Shoreline, Wash.) hit a three-pointer to jumpstart another Redhawk comeback and they found themselves within 10, 39-29, by 5:38 following a pair of free throws by Ashley Ward (Irvine, Calif.)
Seattle U closed the margin to five, 47-42, with a minute and 17 seconds left before halftime on an overall 22-9 run, but Oregon extended the lead to nine, 53-44, at halftime.
Sylvia Shephard (Alta Loma, Calif.) hit a three to open up the second half and Sowell added a layup, but Oregon jumped back out to a 10 point lead, 58-48, on a three-pointer by Loper.
Over the next four minutes, the Redhawks would go on a 15-6 run to close the gap to just one, 64-63, at 13:28. Shephard and Sowell combined for eight points on the run.
Seattle U would take their first lead of the game, 66-65, at 12:51 on a three-pointer by Shtikel , but Rowe would answer back with her own three-pointer to regain the lead for Oregon. The lead would change hands three more times over the next two minutes before Sowell would regain the lead for the Redhawks on a layup at 10:49.
Seattle U would hold on to the lead on a jumper and pair of free throws by Shephard, leading by as many as three two different times, until Rowe hit a pair of free throws to put the Ducks ahead, 76-75, at 8:57.
The lead would change 10 times over the next four minutes, 16 times overall in the game, before Oregon would regain the lead for good, 93-90, at 4:05. The Redhawks would again come within just three two more times in the last minute, both on layups by Sowell, but the Ducks would come away with the five-point win, 105-100.
Sowell led the Redhawks with 25 points, while Shephard contributed 23 and Ross added 15. Claire Metoyer (Desoto, Texas) made her first career appearance in the game while Afunugo, Shtikel, and Best scored a career high 10, nine, and eight points, respectively.
Prior to the game, Ward was honored for becoming just the 13th player in program history, third in as many seasons, to pass the 1000 career points mark.
Seattle U hits the road to face San Diego on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. before returning home to host Montana State on Dec. 14 in their final home game for the month of December.