SEATTLE – Seattle University women's basketball rallied in the second half and led in the fourth period, but Kansas City came away with a 76-65 decision in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) opener on Thursday night. Kamira Sanders scored 22 points to lead SU at the Redhawk Center.
"It was a really physical game and I thought we hung in well," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "We fought so hard to get back into the game (in the second half) and they came back with a 10-0 run and that was the game."
Both offenses got out to sluggish starts on Thursday. Neither team scored until the 7:51 mark and SU (6-8, 0-1 WAC) didn't connect on a field goal until 5:34 to go in the frame, as Leilani Peat swished a baseline jumper. Kamira Sanders finished a layup to get the Redhawks within a point at 7-6. Joana Alves and Georgia Kehoe each scored inside and then Sanders sank a wing trey for a 13-12 edge with 1:07 left in the period. The visitors made a free throw and then a layup to close the quarter with a 15-13 margin.
In the second period, Kansas City (8-7, 1-0 WAC) scored first, but Olivia Crawford hit a jumper and then Makenna Schoenhofer assisted on an Alves triple from the top of the key, giving SU an 18-17 lead with 7:45 to play. After a Roo hoop, Sanders drove and scored through contact, tying the score at 21 after hitting the ensuing foul shot. The visitors answered with two baskets, but Kehoe found a cutting Sarah Rahon for a layup at the 3:47 mark. Kansas City looked to pull away late in the half, but a layup by Courtney Murphy and a jumper by Crawford kept SU within range. The Roos entered halftime with a 36-28 difference.
Kansas City scored first in the third quarter, but Seattle U replied with 10-0 run to tie the contest. Murphy nailed a three and Sanders made a steal and a layup. Sanders drew a foul and split the free throws. The senior grabbed an offensive board and was fouled again, converting both tries to get her side within two points. Alves followed with a bucket to make it 38-all with 5:50 to go.
The Roos regained a four-point margin, but Peat scored and then Sanders hit two foul shots. After the visitors went back up five, Crawford stole the ball and then set up a Sanders lay-in. Kansas City scored again, but Alves came back with a layup and then Chinwe Ezeonu made a steal and found Sanders for another bucket. Sanders came up with another steal and scored herself, tying the game at 50. Ericka Mattingly drew a foul and made both free throws to cap the third with the Roos ahead, 52-50.
After an early KC hoop in the fourth, Ezeonu cut and scored in the lane and then McKenzi Williams made a layup to make it 54-54 with just under nine minutes to go. A Crawford basket gave SU its first lead since the second period. Williams split two free throws, but Mattingly replied with a three-pointer to tie the match. The Roos gained control with 10 straight points for a 67-57 advantage at the 3:15 mark, and then they made enough foul shots to ice the game.
Sanders put up 22 points on the night, including 13 in the third period. She also grabbed six rebounds. Alves compiled nine points and eight rebounds, while Crawford tallied 11 points on 4-6 shooting from the floor.
SU will host Chicago State on Saturday. Tip-off for the WAC contest is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Redhawk Center.
"It was a really physical game and I thought we hung in well," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "We fought so hard to get back into the game (in the second half) and they came back with a 10-0 run and that was the game."
Both offenses got out to sluggish starts on Thursday. Neither team scored until the 7:51 mark and SU (6-8, 0-1 WAC) didn't connect on a field goal until 5:34 to go in the frame, as Leilani Peat swished a baseline jumper. Kamira Sanders finished a layup to get the Redhawks within a point at 7-6. Joana Alves and Georgia Kehoe each scored inside and then Sanders sank a wing trey for a 13-12 edge with 1:07 left in the period. The visitors made a free throw and then a layup to close the quarter with a 15-13 margin.
In the second period, Kansas City (8-7, 1-0 WAC) scored first, but Olivia Crawford hit a jumper and then Makenna Schoenhofer assisted on an Alves triple from the top of the key, giving SU an 18-17 lead with 7:45 to play. After a Roo hoop, Sanders drove and scored through contact, tying the score at 21 after hitting the ensuing foul shot. The visitors answered with two baskets, but Kehoe found a cutting Sarah Rahon for a layup at the 3:47 mark. Kansas City looked to pull away late in the half, but a layup by Courtney Murphy and a jumper by Crawford kept SU within range. The Roos entered halftime with a 36-28 difference.
Kansas City scored first in the third quarter, but Seattle U replied with 10-0 run to tie the contest. Murphy nailed a three and Sanders made a steal and a layup. Sanders drew a foul and split the free throws. The senior grabbed an offensive board and was fouled again, converting both tries to get her side within two points. Alves followed with a bucket to make it 38-all with 5:50 to go.
The Roos regained a four-point margin, but Peat scored and then Sanders hit two foul shots. After the visitors went back up five, Crawford stole the ball and then set up a Sanders lay-in. Kansas City scored again, but Alves came back with a layup and then Chinwe Ezeonu made a steal and found Sanders for another bucket. Sanders came up with another steal and scored herself, tying the game at 50. Ericka Mattingly drew a foul and made both free throws to cap the third with the Roos ahead, 52-50.
After an early KC hoop in the fourth, Ezeonu cut and scored in the lane and then McKenzi Williams made a layup to make it 54-54 with just under nine minutes to go. A Crawford basket gave SU its first lead since the second period. Williams split two free throws, but Mattingly replied with a three-pointer to tie the match. The Roos gained control with 10 straight points for a 67-57 advantage at the 3:15 mark, and then they made enough foul shots to ice the game.
Sanders put up 22 points on the night, including 13 in the third period. She also grabbed six rebounds. Alves compiled nine points and eight rebounds, while Crawford tallied 11 points on 4-6 shooting from the floor.
SU will host Chicago State on Saturday. Tip-off for the WAC contest is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Redhawk Center.