The Redhawks scored the first five points of the game as Alexis Montgomery (Beaverton, Ore.) hit a three just a minute in and Taelor Ross (Vancouver, Wash.) hit two free throws 30 seconds later, but they would lead only for nearly four minutes before the Ducks gained the lead for good.Seattle U leading, 8-7, at the 16:34 mark of the first half, Jillian Alleyne drove in a layup at 16:08 to give Oregon the lead.
Montgomery hit a jumper at 13:19 to cut the Oregon lead back down to just one, 11-10, but UO would lead by as many as eight two different times near the halfway mark of the first half. The Ducks increased the lead to double digits, 24-13, just over seven minutes before halftime.
SU trailed by 18 at the break after holding the Ducks to just two baskets in the final five minutes of the half. Kaylee Best (Seattle, Wash.) hit a three just 10 seconds into the second half and Ross sunk a jumper just 20 seconds later for a 5-0 opening half run, but Oregon would lead by 21, 43-22, just three minutes later.
After Ross went 2-for-2 at the line with 9:01 remaining in the contest, the Redhawks would be held scoreless for three and a half minutes while Oregon went on a 13-0 run. Best and Ross would combine for 13 of Seattle U’s final 14 points of the contest, with Best hitting back-to-back three’s with under two minutes remaining.
The Ducks held the Redhawks to just 22.4 percent (15-for-67) shooting from the field, while shooting 43.3 percent (26-for-60).
Ross and Best led SU with 14 points apiece while Montgomery added 12. Best and Montgomery combined for all five of Seattle U’s three-pointers (5-for-14 as a team).
The Redhawks close their non-conference road schedule with this game, as they start a stretch in which they will play four games in a seven day span. They return home to host UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. as well as CSU Northridge on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 2 p.m. and CSU Fullerton on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 2 p.m.
Fans who present a game ticket from Tuesday’s (Dec. 30) Seattle U men’s basketball game at the entrance of Wednesday’s game will receive free admission to the New Years Eve contest. Similarly, Saturday and Sunday’s contests will be a two-for-one deal as fans who present a ticket from Saturday’s game will receive free admission to Sunday’s game.
SU will close out their four-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 10 vs. Utah Valley, opening Western Athletic Conference play.