The Broncs would score the first four points before taking a 7-2 lead through the first two minutes of play after Wilma Afunugo (Plano, Texas) put the Redhawks on the board with a layup. Coming out of the first media timeout of the first half, Seattle U would quickly tie the game at seven, capped off by a Crystal Allen (Fort Worth, Texas) three-pointer.
Over the next four minutes, UTPA would respond with another 7-2 run to lead, 14-9, nearly halfway through the first half and they would take their first double digit lead, 21-11, with 6:57 remaining before half.
Brittany Bush went 2-for-2 from the line to put UTPA up by 12 before the Afunugo and Allen hit back-to-back baskets, the second from behind the arc, but a Tori Swain jumper would put the Broncs up by as many as 13, 31-18, at 4:41.
Claire Metoyer (Desoto, Texas) and Shawnte’ Goff would trade baskets before Kaylee Best (Seattle, Wash.) went 1-for-2 from the line with just over a minute remaining in the first half, but SU would trail by double digits, 35-25, at the half.
The Broncs would open the second half with a 7-0 run, forcing the Redhawks to call timeout, and an overall 14-4 run by the first media timeout of the second period.
UTPA would lead by 26, 55-29, before Masha Shtikel (Shoreline, Wash.) would enter the game and provide an offensive spark for the Redhawks. Shtikel hit two quick back-to-back three’s as the Redhawks would put together a 11-2 run within three minutes of her entrance into the contest, still trailing, 57-40 with 11:19 remaining.
Seattle U would outscore UTPA, 8-6, over the next three minutes to trail by 15, 63-48, with eight minutes left and would cut the deficit to 15 once more with just under five minutes remaining on a Taelor Ross (Vancouver, Wash.) layup.
At 4:36, Goff hit a three-pointer to put the Broncs back up by 18, 70-52, and cut off the Redhawks’ hope of a further comeback as UTPA outscored SU, 10-6 over the final four and a half minutes to earn the win.
Ross led the Redhawks offensively with 17 points, also adding 10 rebounds, good for her first career double-double. Afunugo pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds.
Seattle U looks to rebound on Saturday at New Mexico State at 2 pm MT/1 pm PT, a contest that will be broadcast on ESPN3. Links to live stats and the broadcast are on the women’s basketball schedule page at GoSeattleU.com.