Seattle University could not keep up with the Washington State offense, especially in the first half, as the Cougars defeated the Redhawks, 82-62, Friday night in a women’s collegiate basketball game at Beasley Coliseum.
Four players scored in double figures for the Redhawks, led by Alexis Montgomery (Beaverton, Ore.) with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including two three-pointers. Kaylee Best (Seattle, Wash.) finished with 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds, Wilma Afunugo (Plano, Texas) collected 13 points and five rebounds, and Taelor Ross (Vancouver, Wash.) added 10 points and six rebounds.
After Seattle U scored the first four points of the game in the opening minute, Washington State took control, going on a 24-5 run over the next nine minutes. After Best hit a three-pointer to close the Redhawk deficit to 26-18, the Cougars outscored the Redhawks 21-10 as they entered halftime with a 47-28 lead.
Seattle U would close to within 14 points in the second half, always on a three-pointer, starting with one by Masha Shtikel (Shoreline, Wash.) and continuing with two from Best and one by Montgomery. Washington State would extend its advantage to 26 at 82-56 with 4:48 left in the second half before the Redhawks scored the final six points of the game.
Washington State (3-1) was led by Tia Presley with 25 points, while Taylor Edmondson came off the bench and scored 17 points for the Cougars. Shalie Dheensaw finished with 12 points and two blocked shots, and Lia Galdeira contributed 10 points, six rebounds, and six assists. As a team, the Cougars shot 49.2 percent from the field (30-of-61) and 87.5 percent from the free throw line (14-of-16).
The Redhawks shot 43.5 percent from the field (20-of-46), including 7-of-17 from behind the three-point line, and 75.0 percent from the free throw line (15-of-20). However, Seattle U committed 22 turnovers that led to 25 Cougar points.
Seattle University (1-2) heads to Bozeman, Mont., to face the Montana State Bobcats Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. local time (1 p.m. Pacific time). That will be the final road game for the Redhawks before they begin a seven-game homestand next week.