“Hats off to Idaho,” said head coach Joan Bonvicini. “I thought they started well and then really capitalized on our mistakes. I just never thought our intensity or our pace was where I wanted it to be. I felt like we were a little slow, not quick enough, and we didn’t finish well so we were playing catch up the entire game.”
Stacey Barr opened up the contest with a three-pointer, but Alexis Montgomery (Beaverton, Ore.) would match it just 16 seconds later. The Vandals, however, would go on a 7-2 run over the next two minutes to lead, 10-5, at 16:45.
Idaho would extend their lead, 14-5, now allowing Seattle U to score until Ashley Ward (Irvine, Calif.) drove in a layup at 12:30. The Redhawks would match the Vandals, 3-for-3, in baskets over the next minute and a half, but two of Idaho’s three would be three-pointers as they took a double digit lead, 22-12, at the 11-minute mark.
The Redhawks would answer with a 9-0 run over the next six minutes jumpstarted by a Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.) and capped off with a pair of jumpers by Taelor Ross (Vancouver, Wash.) and Kristin Stoffel (Mill Creek, Wash.), to come within just one, 23-22, with five minutes until halftime. Montgomery also added a three on the run.
Connie Ballestero and Christina Salvatore would put an end to Seattle U’s comeback chances as they hit two straight three’s to re-extend Idaho’s lead to seven, 29-22, with just under four minutes left before halftime.
Ward and Alyssa Charlston traded free throws, each going 2-for-2 at the line, and Stoffel put the Redhawks within six, 32-26, at 1:49, but Ballestero would hit a three as Idaho held onto the halftime advantage, 35-26.
The Vandals opened up the second half where they left off, scoring five of the first seven points within just the first minute. Stoffel hit a jumper at 18:21 but Barr put Idaho back ahead by double digits, 43-33, at 17:42.
Ali Forde drove in two straight layups to ignite a 13-3 run as Idaho would lead, 56-36, at 13:47. Sylvia Shephard (Alta Loma, Calif.) and Ross would combine for three straight field goals and Ward would add two free throws on an overall 11-2 run as they trailed, 58-47, at 8:27. Montgomery and Salvatore would trade three’s as the Redhawks trailed by 11 once again, and Makenna Clark (Lake Tapps, Wash.) would hit a three of her own, but two sets of Barr free throws put Idaho ahead, 68-53, at 4:33.
Stoffel and Clark would bring the Redhawks within 15, 72-57, with just over two minutes remaining, but that would be as close as they would come as Idaho came away with the 77-59 win.
Three Redhawks scored in double figures, led by Montgomery with 12 points, while Sowell recorded her sixth double double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Despite the loss, Seattle U outrebounded Idaho, 51-41 and led from the line, shooting 60 percent of their free throws (12-for-20). Fifteen Idaho points off Seattle U turnovers would prove to be a difference maker as SU recorded 16 turnovers in the contest.
Seattle U far surpassed their fundraising goal for Play 4Kay, the initiative named for Kay Yow that supports and raises money for cancers that affect women. Stay tuned to Redhawk social media channels on a final fundraising number.
Seattle U (10-11, 5-3 WAC) hits the road to open up the second half of their Western Athletic Conference schedule, traveling to UTPA on Thursday, Feb. 6 and New Mexico State on Saturday, Feb. 8. Stay tuned to all the latest on the team by liking Seattle U Athletics and Seattle University Women’s Basketball on Facebook, following @su_athletics and @su_wbb on Twitter, and su_redhawks and su_wbb on Instagram.