Seattle University controlled play down low and forced Northwest University into 24 turnovers as the Redhawks pulled away for an 82-55 victory over the Eagles Wednesday night in a women’s college basketball exhibition game at the Connolly Center.
Taelor Ross (Vancouver, Wash.) finished the game with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots, and two steals, while frontcourt mate Wilma Afunugo (Plano, Texas) contributed 12 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Alexis Montgomery (Beaverton, Ore.) also scored 14 points, plus she pulled down five rebounds and dished out five assists in the game.
“We took care of the ball better tonight and got to the free throw line a lot better in this game,” Seattle U head women’s basketball coach Joan Bonvicini said. “I really want to compliment Claire (Metoyer), she had not played in a year, but she got out there tonight and was a great spark plug for our team. I am proud of everyone, as this was a team win. This is a work in progress, but we are improving each game.”
Northwest took a 5-4 lead three minutes into the game on a jumper by Charity Degman, but Seattle U took the lead for good thanks to an 18-5 scoring run over the next eight minutes, led by Ross with six points and Montgomery with five. The Eagles closed their deficit to seven at 29-22 on a three-pointer by Jordan Asher, but the Redhawks responded with a 9-2 scoring run over the next three minutes, capped by five straight points by Claire Metoyer (Desoto, Texas).
The two teams basically traded baskets through the majority of the second half, and Asher scored five straight points to bring Northwest to within 10 at 62-52 with 6:32 left in regulation. The Redhawks pulled away down the stretch, outscoring the Eagles 20-3 as Seattle U forced 10 second half turnovers by Northwest and held the Eagles to 36.4 percent field goal shooting after halftime.
Bonvicini gave 13 different players a chance on the floor, with everyone playing at least six minutes and no more than 29 minutes in the game. Jacinta Beckley (Wellington, New Zealand) finished with eight points and seven rebounds, while Metoyer earned eight points, four rebounds, and two assists. As a team, the Redhawks shot 44.4 percent (28-of-63) from the field, including 6-of-15 from behind the three-point line, and 69.0 percent (20-of-29) from the free throw line, plus they won the rebounding battle, 44-40.
Asher hit four three-pointers in the game as she led Northwest with 18 points, five assists, and four steals, while Hannah Carlson contributed 10 points and six rebounds off the bench for the Eagles.
Seattle University opens the regular season Friday, Nov. 14, at Long Beach State in a 12 noon start at the Walter Pyramid. The Redhawks play their first regular season home game two days later, welcoming Portland State to the Connolly Center Sunday, Nov. 16, for a 5 p.m. tipoff.