BOX SCORE
SEATTLE, Wash. (Oct. 29) - Seattle University women’s basketball dropped a 53-45 decision to Seattle Pacific on Saturday afternoon. Kaylee Best paced the Redhawks with 12 points, five rebounds, and five steals in the exhibition contest at the Connolly Complex.
“SPU is so fundamental,” said first-year Coach Suzy Barcomb. “They do a great job there. I thought our halftime adjustments went well. We’ll grow as a team and play better basketball next time out.”
Down 22-15 at the break, the Redhawks looked to work their way back. Best hit a jumper 16 seconds into the third frame, but Seattle Pacific answered with a pair of three-pointers. An Afunugo layup got SU closer, but the visitors again tried to pull away. Claire Metoyer and Wilma Afunugo each scored and then Best nailed a triple to get within 33-26 with 3:33 remaining in the third. The Falcons made two more threes and closed the quarter with a 42-32 advantage.
An SPU trey early in the fourth stretched the deficit, but Seattle U refused to quit. Shaylin Heredia hit a free throw and Jacinta Beckley sank a jumper to make it a ten-point difference. Best tallied a steal and a breakaway layup and followed with a three-pointer to make it 47-41 at the 3:29 mark. A pair of Afunugo foul shots got SU within five, but the visitors scored late to close out the contest in the final minute.
Metoyer scored to open the game and then Afunugo split a pair of free throws for a 3-2 edge after two minutes. The Falcons grabbed the lead after that, but Alexis Montgomery hit a three to get SU closer. A late trey by Beckley made it 16-9 after one period. The visitors maintained a seven-point margin heading into halftime.
Best, a senior, put up 12 points with five boards (four offensive), and five steals in 35 minutes. Metoyer recorded eight points and four rebounds, while Beckley added eights. Afunugo contributed seven points and nine boards. Courtney Hollander led the Falcons with 21 points and seven rebounds.
Seattle U hosts Evergreen in another exhibition on Saturday, November 5. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. at the Connolly Complex.