EDINBURG, Texas- Seattle University women's basketball went to overtime at UTRGV, but the Vaqueros pulled out an 85-81 decision on Thursday night. McKenzi Williams scored a career-high 20 points, while Courtney Murphy tallied her first career double-double in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) contest at UTRGV Fieldhouse.
"This is a heartbreaker," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "Kenzi had a great game and Courtney was strong tonight. It was great to have Hailey out on the floor for the first time. We just had some critical turnovers at the wrong times tonight."
Making her Seattle U (7-10, 1-3 WAC) debut, Hailey Vice-Neat got the Redhawks out to a good start offensively. The sophomore drove and converted a short jumper while being fouled. After a pair of Kamira Sanders hoops, Vice-Neat followed by sinking a trey above the break off a Sanders assist for a 9-6 lead with 5:38 remaining in the first frame.
Georgia Kehoe scored inside and then Williams swished a corner three-ball for a 14-11 edge. Williams then drove and finished in the lane, and after the hosts went up, 18-17, Olivia Crawford drew a double-team and set up a Joana Alves layup in the final seconds of the period, putting SU ahead by one.
In the second quarter, the defenses held sway, as both teams went scoreless for over four minutes to start the action. Williams finally broke the string with a layup at the 5:26 mark for a 21-18 margin. The redshirt sophomore then split two foul shots and made a layup. Williams assisted on a Georgia Kehoe hoop for a 26-25 lead with 2:07 showing on the clock. Two Sanders free throws kept the offense moving forward and then Crawford again drew the defense on the last possession, this time finding Kehoe for a layup at the buzzer, as SU grabbed a 30-27 lead at halftime.
SU came out hot in the third, as Courtney Murphy sank a corner triple to start second-half scoring. Sanders then found Alves for a layup and Sanders converted an acrobatic putback for a 37-27 advantage at the 8:04 mark. The hosts looked to get closer, but Williams made another trey for a nine-point difference with 5:39 left in the third. Layups by Sanders and Vice-Neat kept the margin at 10 late in the period, but the Vaqueros rallied to get within 46-44 with 10 minutes to play in regulation.
A Murphy three-ball gave SU a 51-47 advantage with 7:38 remaining in the fourth. After a UTRGV foul shot, Murphy nailed another trey for a six-point lead. Crawford threw over the top of the defense for Leilani Peat, who scored while being fouled with 6:17 left. Another Peat lay-in made it 58-48 with under six minutes.
The lead remained at 10 with 3:41 to play in the fourth, but UTRGV started its comeback in the final three minutes. After the hosts pulled within one, Sanders drove and scored while being fouled. She hit the ensuing free throw for a 62-58 difference with 58 seconds left. The senior split two foul shots for a 63-60 lead with 27 seconds remaining, but the Vaqueros hit a tying three with 4.4 seconds showing on the clock. SU's final play came up empty, pushing the contest to overtime.
Williams hit 2-4 free throws and then made a layup to keep the Redhawks close in OT, but the home side led, 71-67, with 2:40 remaining. Crawford dished to an open Murphy, who splashed a three to get SU back within a point. Despite threes from Murphy and Carla Bieg, UTRGV hit enough free throws to hang on for the victory.
Williams scored a career-high 20 points on 7-10 shooting, including a pair of treys. She added four assists and three rebounds off the bench. Murphy posted 15 points on 5-7 three-point accuracy, pulling down a career-best 12 points in 42 minutes of action. Sanders contributed 16 points and five assists, while Kehoe added six points, four assists, and three boards off the bench. Vice-Neat recorded seven points and four rebounds in her first outing at SU.
SU wraps its three-game road trip on Saturday at New Mexico State. Tip-off for the WAC match is scheduled for noon Mountain (11 a.m. Pacific) at NM State.
"This is a heartbreaker," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "Kenzi had a great game and Courtney was strong tonight. It was great to have Hailey out on the floor for the first time. We just had some critical turnovers at the wrong times tonight."
Making her Seattle U (7-10, 1-3 WAC) debut, Hailey Vice-Neat got the Redhawks out to a good start offensively. The sophomore drove and converted a short jumper while being fouled. After a pair of Kamira Sanders hoops, Vice-Neat followed by sinking a trey above the break off a Sanders assist for a 9-6 lead with 5:38 remaining in the first frame.
Georgia Kehoe scored inside and then Williams swished a corner three-ball for a 14-11 edge. Williams then drove and finished in the lane, and after the hosts went up, 18-17, Olivia Crawford drew a double-team and set up a Joana Alves layup in the final seconds of the period, putting SU ahead by one.
In the second quarter, the defenses held sway, as both teams went scoreless for over four minutes to start the action. Williams finally broke the string with a layup at the 5:26 mark for a 21-18 margin. The redshirt sophomore then split two foul shots and made a layup. Williams assisted on a Georgia Kehoe hoop for a 26-25 lead with 2:07 showing on the clock. Two Sanders free throws kept the offense moving forward and then Crawford again drew the defense on the last possession, this time finding Kehoe for a layup at the buzzer, as SU grabbed a 30-27 lead at halftime.
SU came out hot in the third, as Courtney Murphy sank a corner triple to start second-half scoring. Sanders then found Alves for a layup and Sanders converted an acrobatic putback for a 37-27 advantage at the 8:04 mark. The hosts looked to get closer, but Williams made another trey for a nine-point difference with 5:39 left in the third. Layups by Sanders and Vice-Neat kept the margin at 10 late in the period, but the Vaqueros rallied to get within 46-44 with 10 minutes to play in regulation.
A Murphy three-ball gave SU a 51-47 advantage with 7:38 remaining in the fourth. After a UTRGV foul shot, Murphy nailed another trey for a six-point lead. Crawford threw over the top of the defense for Leilani Peat, who scored while being fouled with 6:17 left. Another Peat lay-in made it 58-48 with under six minutes.
The lead remained at 10 with 3:41 to play in the fourth, but UTRGV started its comeback in the final three minutes. After the hosts pulled within one, Sanders drove and scored while being fouled. She hit the ensuing free throw for a 62-58 difference with 58 seconds left. The senior split two foul shots for a 63-60 lead with 27 seconds remaining, but the Vaqueros hit a tying three with 4.4 seconds showing on the clock. SU's final play came up empty, pushing the contest to overtime.
Williams hit 2-4 free throws and then made a layup to keep the Redhawks close in OT, but the home side led, 71-67, with 2:40 remaining. Crawford dished to an open Murphy, who splashed a three to get SU back within a point. Despite threes from Murphy and Carla Bieg, UTRGV hit enough free throws to hang on for the victory.
Williams scored a career-high 20 points on 7-10 shooting, including a pair of treys. She added four assists and three rebounds off the bench. Murphy posted 15 points on 5-7 three-point accuracy, pulling down a career-best 12 points in 42 minutes of action. Sanders contributed 16 points and five assists, while Kehoe added six points, four assists, and three boards off the bench. Vice-Neat recorded seven points and four rebounds in her first outing at SU.
SU wraps its three-game road trip on Saturday at New Mexico State. Tip-off for the WAC match is scheduled for noon Mountain (11 a.m. Pacific) at NM State.