BOX SCORE | NCAA TOURNAMENT | PHOTO GALLERY
EUGENE, Ore. – (March 16) Seattle University women’s basketball lost, 88-45, at second-seeded Oregon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday. The Redhawks capped their first Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship season by appearing in the NCAA Tournament at Matthew Knight Arena.
“Oregon made us feel special at this event,” said Coach Suzy Barcomb. “We’re incredibly appreciative of how we’ve been treated here. They’re a great team and they played to their potential today. I don’t think we took a breath in the first half, but we got better in each quarter of the game.”
The Redhawks, making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, were overwhelmed early, as the Ducks sprinted out to a 25-6 lead after a quarter. Alexis Montgomery scored to slow a 10-0 start, but Oregon (31-4) went ahead, 19-2. Montgomery set up two Kallin Spiller hoops as SU (18-15) fell behind by 19.
In the second quarter, McKenzi Williams and Jacinta Beckley both scored early, but the hosts answered with a 14-0 run to stretch their advantage. Beckley and Spiller scored to get SU some traction, but Oregon held a 48-16 margin at halftime.
Kamira Sanders scored to begin the Redhawks’ second-half action, as Seattle U did its best to hang in with one of the top teams in the country. Baskets by Williams and Montgomery trimmed the deficit and then Montgomery’s lay-in made it 61-24 with 6:03 remaining. Beckley swished a jumper as the period wore on. Spiller scored inside twice and Madeline Dopplick connected on a jump shot, as the Ducks led, 70-32, after 30 minutes.
Montgomery scored again in the fourth. She assisted on a Delaney McCann layup and then Montgomery hit two free throws. The senior added two more buckets and Dopplick drained a trey in the closing minutes.
On the day, Montgomery led with 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Spiller tallied 10 points and Dopplick added seven.
The Redhawks held Oregon to 5-17 three-point shooting in the contest.
The Ducks will take on 10th-seeded Minnesota in the second round on Sunday at Matthew Knight Arena. The Gophers defeated Green Bay in Friday’s other first-round matchup.
Seattle U says goodbye to Beckley, Lewey, and Montgomery in its senior class.