RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Seattle University women's basketball ran away with an 83-49 win at California Baptist on Saturday afternoon. SU held the Lancers to 22.2 percent field-goal shooting in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) contest at the CBU Events Center.
"It was a complete game by the entire team," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "We executed the scout prepared by the coaches. Clearly the best game of the year for us on both ends of the floor. We shared the ball incredibly well and our defense fueled our offense today."
The win marks the largest margin of victory in a WAC road win in program history. The field-goal percentage is the lowest ever allowed by a Redhawk defense in a conference game.
SU was dominant in every phase Saturday, shooting 51 percent (35-69) from the floor and making 9-19 three-pointers. It put up 28 bench points, scored 38 points in the paint, and recorded 22 points in transition.
The Redhawks started out well and only got better as the game continued. Chinwe Ezeonu sank a jumper and then Kamira Sanders made a steal and went in for a layup. Hailey Vice-Neat got a mismatch inside and finished for a 6-3 advantage. After two Lancer free throws, Ezeonu scored in the lane. Olivia Crawford followed with a layup and then swished a wing three for a 13-7 margin. Joana Alves made a layup, and after a CBU hoop, McKenzi Williams connected on a jumper for a 17-12 lead with 3:07 left in the quarter. The score remained there as the opening frame ended.
The hosts scored first in the second quarter, but Ezeonu hit another jumper to keep SU ahead. Williams then hit a jumper and followed with a trey for a six-point lead. With 5:14 to go in the half, Sanders dished out to Alves for a three-ball. Alves and Leilani Peat both blocked shots as the defense wrecked havoc on the CBU attack. Sanders sank a three and Peat made a jumper as the lead ballooned to 12. Alves scored again, and after a Lancer bucket, Williams found a cutting Vice-Neat for a layup to make it 40-27 at halftime.
In the third period, SU looked to put the Lancers away. The home side scored first, but Alves replied with a triple and a jumper for a 45-30 difference. CBU made two foul shots, but Ezeonu made a nice move to score in the lane and then Courtney Murphy grabbed a rebound and hit Sanders, who drove and scored for a 17-point lead, forcing a Lancer timeout with 5:49 showing on the clock.
Seattle U kept at it after the stoppage, as Williams hit a jumper and then a layup. Later in the frame, Alves made a layup and Sanders converted from downtown. A driving Sanders basket made it 60-34 at the 1:43 mark. Vice-Neat finished in the paint late in the period, and after a CBU free throw, the Redhawks held a 62-37 margin through 30 minutes.
Murphy made sure to dash any comeback hopes early in the fourth. The sophomore sank a three-ball, two technical free throws, and a jumper as SU went ahead, 69-37, at the 8:48 mark. She rained in a stepback trey to keep the lead at 30, allowing Barcomb to go to the bench in the closing minutes. Makenna Schoenhofer nailed a three from the top of the key to cap the road rout.
Alves put up 18 points, four rebounds, and two blocked shots. Williams tallied 13 points and five rebounds, while Sanders compiled 12 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Murphy posted 12 points and nine boards. Ezeonu came off the bench with eight points and four rebounds, as Crawford added seven points, nine boards, and five assists.
"We are slowly putting everything together and finding what our strengths are as a team," said Barcomb.
Seattle U returns home next weekend, as Utah Valley visits for a WAC game. Tip-off for Feb. 8 is slated for 2 p.m. at the Redhawk Center.
"It was a complete game by the entire team," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "We executed the scout prepared by the coaches. Clearly the best game of the year for us on both ends of the floor. We shared the ball incredibly well and our defense fueled our offense today."
The win marks the largest margin of victory in a WAC road win in program history. The field-goal percentage is the lowest ever allowed by a Redhawk defense in a conference game.
SU was dominant in every phase Saturday, shooting 51 percent (35-69) from the floor and making 9-19 three-pointers. It put up 28 bench points, scored 38 points in the paint, and recorded 22 points in transition.
The Redhawks started out well and only got better as the game continued. Chinwe Ezeonu sank a jumper and then Kamira Sanders made a steal and went in for a layup. Hailey Vice-Neat got a mismatch inside and finished for a 6-3 advantage. After two Lancer free throws, Ezeonu scored in the lane. Olivia Crawford followed with a layup and then swished a wing three for a 13-7 margin. Joana Alves made a layup, and after a CBU hoop, McKenzi Williams connected on a jumper for a 17-12 lead with 3:07 left in the quarter. The score remained there as the opening frame ended.
The hosts scored first in the second quarter, but Ezeonu hit another jumper to keep SU ahead. Williams then hit a jumper and followed with a trey for a six-point lead. With 5:14 to go in the half, Sanders dished out to Alves for a three-ball. Alves and Leilani Peat both blocked shots as the defense wrecked havoc on the CBU attack. Sanders sank a three and Peat made a jumper as the lead ballooned to 12. Alves scored again, and after a Lancer bucket, Williams found a cutting Vice-Neat for a layup to make it 40-27 at halftime.
In the third period, SU looked to put the Lancers away. The home side scored first, but Alves replied with a triple and a jumper for a 45-30 difference. CBU made two foul shots, but Ezeonu made a nice move to score in the lane and then Courtney Murphy grabbed a rebound and hit Sanders, who drove and scored for a 17-point lead, forcing a Lancer timeout with 5:49 showing on the clock.
Seattle U kept at it after the stoppage, as Williams hit a jumper and then a layup. Later in the frame, Alves made a layup and Sanders converted from downtown. A driving Sanders basket made it 60-34 at the 1:43 mark. Vice-Neat finished in the paint late in the period, and after a CBU free throw, the Redhawks held a 62-37 margin through 30 minutes.
Murphy made sure to dash any comeback hopes early in the fourth. The sophomore sank a three-ball, two technical free throws, and a jumper as SU went ahead, 69-37, at the 8:48 mark. She rained in a stepback trey to keep the lead at 30, allowing Barcomb to go to the bench in the closing minutes. Makenna Schoenhofer nailed a three from the top of the key to cap the road rout.
Alves put up 18 points, four rebounds, and two blocked shots. Williams tallied 13 points and five rebounds, while Sanders compiled 12 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Murphy posted 12 points and nine boards. Ezeonu came off the bench with eight points and four rebounds, as Crawford added seven points, nine boards, and five assists.
"We are slowly putting everything together and finding what our strengths are as a team," said Barcomb.
Seattle U returns home next weekend, as Utah Valley visits for a WAC game. Tip-off for Feb. 8 is slated for 2 p.m. at the Redhawk Center.