OREM, Utah – Seattle University women's basketball hung in at Utah Valley, but the Wolverines came away with a 70-58 decision on Saturday afternoon. Joana Alves led with 17 points and five rebounds in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) contest at the UCCU Center.
"We had a couple opportunities to take control of the game today," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "Our lack of execution to begin the fourth quarter did us in, though."
In the first half, the defenses dictated the action. UVU held a 2-0 lead after three minutes of action before a Kamira Sanders drive and score got SU on the board. The hosts went up, 6-2, but Courtney Murphy sank a wing three-pointer at the 5:22 mark to get the Redhawks within a point.
McKenzi Williams set up a Chinwe Ezeonu baseline jumper as SU (7-9, 1-2 WAC) took its first lead at 7-6. Utah Valley answered with four straight points to go back ahead, though. Layups by Sanders and Joana Alves made it 11-10 Redhawks with 1:52 left in the period. A pair of Wolverine baskets gave UVU a 14-11 advantage after a frame, however.
SU, who earns the most free throws in the WAC, continued its trend of drawing fouls in the second quarter. Alves was harmed and then made two free throws and after a UVU three, Ezeonu converted two foul shots on her trip to the line. Williams then assisted on a Murphy triple for an 18-17 edge with 7:43 remaining in the half.
Two more Alves free throws kept SU up before a late Wolverine run allowed the home side to gain control. Alves scored late, but a Utah Valley trey put the hosts up, 26-22, at halftime.
In the first 20 minutes of the game, the teams combined to shoot 17-56 (30.3 percent) from the field, pairing with 15 total turnovers by the squads.
Seattle U lived at the foul line in the third period, getting into the bonus quickly and creating offense with the clock stopped. After an early Alves hoop, Murphy was hit while shooting a three and connected on 2-3 ensuing tries. Olivia Crawford split two attempts and then Georgia Kehoe scored off a Sanders dish. Kehoe followed by splitting two free throws and then Williams did the same as SU stayed in touch at 36-31 with 5:38 remaining in the third.
Alves finished a three-point play at the line to inch closer and then Sanders made a foul shot. Kehoe made a put back and Bieg sank a free throw. Threes by Murphy and Sanders got the Redhawks within a point before a UVU layup. Sanders then found Kehoe for a lay-in in the final seconds of the frame, as the hosts held a 47-46 edge after three periods.
In the fourth, Utah Valley got out to a quick start, and despite a pair of Williams triples, SU was unable to rally down the stretch.
Alves put up 17 points and five rebounds, making 5-7 free throws. Murphy went for 11 points, while Sanders posted eight points, seven assists, and four rebounds. Kehoe and Williams combined for 14 points and nine boards off the bench.
Seattle U continues its road trip next week, as it will play at UTRGV on Thursday, Jan. 16.
"We had a couple opportunities to take control of the game today," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "Our lack of execution to begin the fourth quarter did us in, though."
In the first half, the defenses dictated the action. UVU held a 2-0 lead after three minutes of action before a Kamira Sanders drive and score got SU on the board. The hosts went up, 6-2, but Courtney Murphy sank a wing three-pointer at the 5:22 mark to get the Redhawks within a point.
McKenzi Williams set up a Chinwe Ezeonu baseline jumper as SU (7-9, 1-2 WAC) took its first lead at 7-6. Utah Valley answered with four straight points to go back ahead, though. Layups by Sanders and Joana Alves made it 11-10 Redhawks with 1:52 left in the period. A pair of Wolverine baskets gave UVU a 14-11 advantage after a frame, however.
SU, who earns the most free throws in the WAC, continued its trend of drawing fouls in the second quarter. Alves was harmed and then made two free throws and after a UVU three, Ezeonu converted two foul shots on her trip to the line. Williams then assisted on a Murphy triple for an 18-17 edge with 7:43 remaining in the half.
Two more Alves free throws kept SU up before a late Wolverine run allowed the home side to gain control. Alves scored late, but a Utah Valley trey put the hosts up, 26-22, at halftime.
In the first 20 minutes of the game, the teams combined to shoot 17-56 (30.3 percent) from the field, pairing with 15 total turnovers by the squads.
Seattle U lived at the foul line in the third period, getting into the bonus quickly and creating offense with the clock stopped. After an early Alves hoop, Murphy was hit while shooting a three and connected on 2-3 ensuing tries. Olivia Crawford split two attempts and then Georgia Kehoe scored off a Sanders dish. Kehoe followed by splitting two free throws and then Williams did the same as SU stayed in touch at 36-31 with 5:38 remaining in the third.
Alves finished a three-point play at the line to inch closer and then Sanders made a foul shot. Kehoe made a put back and Bieg sank a free throw. Threes by Murphy and Sanders got the Redhawks within a point before a UVU layup. Sanders then found Kehoe for a lay-in in the final seconds of the frame, as the hosts held a 47-46 edge after three periods.
In the fourth, Utah Valley got out to a quick start, and despite a pair of Williams triples, SU was unable to rally down the stretch.
Alves put up 17 points and five rebounds, making 5-7 free throws. Murphy went for 11 points, while Sanders posted eight points, seven assists, and four rebounds. Kehoe and Williams combined for 14 points and nine boards off the bench.
Seattle U continues its road trip next week, as it will play at UTRGV on Thursday, Jan. 16.