SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Seattle University women's basketball won, 72-49, at Cal Poly Friday, holding the Mustangs to 1-15 shooting from three-point range. Courtney Murphy hit six threes to lead the Redhawks (6-6) to their fourth straight win.
"We wanted to finish strong prior to the much-needed break and we did just that today," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "The team keeps getting better and better and more importantly, many more players are contributing. We also had a very solid defensive effort once again."
In the first half, Murphy was on fire, sinking 5-7 three-point tries on her way to 17 points. The defense did its work on the other end, holding Cal Poly to just six points in the second period. The Redhawks harassed the Mustangs into 2-22 field-goal shooting to close the first half, as SU held a 34-22 halftime margin.
Joana Alves got SU going in the third quarter, scoring twice on post-ups early in the frame. Kamira Sanders then scored six straight Redhawk points, getting into the open floor and finishing in the lane. She grabbed a rebound and set up a Sarah Rahon trey for a 47-30 lead with 1:52 remaining in the period. A Georgia Kehoe free throw put SU further ahead as it took a 48-33 advantage into the fourth.
Another Rahon triple stretched the margin and then Alves scored inside. After a Chinwe Ezeonu foul shot, Murphy nailed her sixth three, matching her career high and making it 59-33 midway through the frame. The Redhawks cruised to victory and claimed their first road win of the season.
Murphy finished with 20 points on 7-14 shooting, swishing 6-12 three-point shots. She added five rebounds and a steal in 36 minutes. Sanders went for 15 points, three assists, and three steals, while Alves shot 6-8 from the floor on her way to 13 points and six rebounds.
As a team, Seattle U held the hosts to 19-65 (29 percent) field-goal shooting, including 1-15 accuracy from deep. The Redhawks forced 22 turnovers, securing 11 steals on the day.
To start the contest, Alves scored first and then Sanders banked in a wing three-ball. With 6:17 left, Alves kicked out to Murphy, who hit her first three of the day. The sophomore followed with a tough jumper from the top of the key and then rained in another trey. After Cal Poly tied the game at 14, Alves scored on a putback and Sanders made a layup as the Redhawks held an 18-16 edge after 10 minutes.
SU quickly took control in the second quarter, as Sanders and Carla Bieg teamed up to wreck the Mustang attack. Bieg made a steal to set up a Sanders lay-in. Sanders stole the ball and scored and then grabbed another theft and found Bieg for a 6-0 burst in 20 seconds that expanded the lead to 24-16.
Murphy made a triple, and after a Mustang hoop, Murphy struck again for a 31-18 lead. Genessa Bedoya made a steal and assisted on yet another Murphy trey for a 16-point advantage late in the half.
Seattle U returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 29, at Cal State Fullerton in its final non-conference game of the season.
"We wanted to finish strong prior to the much-needed break and we did just that today," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "The team keeps getting better and better and more importantly, many more players are contributing. We also had a very solid defensive effort once again."
In the first half, Murphy was on fire, sinking 5-7 three-point tries on her way to 17 points. The defense did its work on the other end, holding Cal Poly to just six points in the second period. The Redhawks harassed the Mustangs into 2-22 field-goal shooting to close the first half, as SU held a 34-22 halftime margin.
Joana Alves got SU going in the third quarter, scoring twice on post-ups early in the frame. Kamira Sanders then scored six straight Redhawk points, getting into the open floor and finishing in the lane. She grabbed a rebound and set up a Sarah Rahon trey for a 47-30 lead with 1:52 remaining in the period. A Georgia Kehoe free throw put SU further ahead as it took a 48-33 advantage into the fourth.
Another Rahon triple stretched the margin and then Alves scored inside. After a Chinwe Ezeonu foul shot, Murphy nailed her sixth three, matching her career high and making it 59-33 midway through the frame. The Redhawks cruised to victory and claimed their first road win of the season.
Murphy finished with 20 points on 7-14 shooting, swishing 6-12 three-point shots. She added five rebounds and a steal in 36 minutes. Sanders went for 15 points, three assists, and three steals, while Alves shot 6-8 from the floor on her way to 13 points and six rebounds.
As a team, Seattle U held the hosts to 19-65 (29 percent) field-goal shooting, including 1-15 accuracy from deep. The Redhawks forced 22 turnovers, securing 11 steals on the day.
To start the contest, Alves scored first and then Sanders banked in a wing three-ball. With 6:17 left, Alves kicked out to Murphy, who hit her first three of the day. The sophomore followed with a tough jumper from the top of the key and then rained in another trey. After Cal Poly tied the game at 14, Alves scored on a putback and Sanders made a layup as the Redhawks held an 18-16 edge after 10 minutes.
SU quickly took control in the second quarter, as Sanders and Carla Bieg teamed up to wreck the Mustang attack. Bieg made a steal to set up a Sanders lay-in. Sanders stole the ball and scored and then grabbed another theft and found Bieg for a 6-0 burst in 20 seconds that expanded the lead to 24-16.
Murphy made a triple, and after a Mustang hoop, Murphy struck again for a 31-18 lead. Genessa Bedoya made a steal and assisted on yet another Murphy trey for a 16-point advantage late in the half.
Seattle U returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 29, at Cal State Fullerton in its final non-conference game of the season.