PHOENIX, Arizona – Seattle University women's basketball tied it late at Grand Canyon, but the Lopes escaped with a 63-60 decision on Thursday night, snapping the Redhawks' five-game win streak. Kamira Sanders scored 23 points to lead SU in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) game at GCU Arena.
"Kamira and Hailey's play kept us in the game with big baskets and hustle plays," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "We put ourselves in a very good position to win the game, but could not execute the critical plays to push us over the top tonight."
A Sanders jump shot made it 52-all with 2:48 remaining. GCU quickly took an eight-point lead after that, but SU (12-13, 6-6 WAC) refused to quit. The Redhawks forced two turnovers, as Hailey Vice-Neat made a three-pointer and a layup to get within 60-57 with 18 seconds left. The hosts made three foul shots to create room, and a Joana Alves three was not enough as time expired.
Sanders tallied 23 points on 10-18 shooting, adding six assists, four rebounds, and two steals on a night that saw her move into eighth on the program's all-time scoring list.
Vice-Neat posted a career-high 19 points on 7-11 shooting, including 4-7 three-point shooting. She grabbed five boards on the night.
GCU was able to play its preferred methodical pace in the first half, draining the shot clock into single digits on many possessions. The home side scored first, but Vice-Neat answered with a three-point play. GCU went ahead by four, but Vice-Neat posted up and scored again to make it 7-5 early.
The hosts looked to gain control, scoring four quick points, but Sanders scored on a lay-in and then Courtney Murphy swished a straight-on three from Olivia Crawford. A Sanders steal and layup made it a one-point difference with 2:30 left in the frame. The senior drove and converted a three-point play for a 15-13 SU edge. GCU closed with three points to claim a 16-15 advantage after a frame.
In the second quarter, the Lopes went up, 19-15, before Joana Alves scored and Sanders made another jump into a passing lane, stealing the ball and cruising in for a tying bucket. The layup gave Sanders 1,351 career points, passing Lisa Hill for eighth on Seattle U's all-time scoring list.
GCU scored next, but Sanders set up an Alves hoop to tie it up again. Chinwe Ezeonu split two foul shots and Alves connected on a pair at the line, but Grand Canyon scored last and took a 28-24 margin into halftime.
GCU scored first in the third period, but Vice-Neat drained a top-of-the-key trey on the other end. Sanders took over after that, scoring 12 straight Redhawk points as she battled to keep her side in the contest. The senior made a layup and then a jumper, and after a Lope score, Sanders drove and finished inside to keep it a one-point margin with 5:10 showing on the clock.
Another Sanders basket allowed SU to stay close before GCU went up by four. A Sanders and-one made it 39-38, but again, the Lopes replied, going ahead, 43-38, late in the frame. Sanders sank a free throw, and after a GCU hoop, Vice-Neat hit a triple with 27 seconds left, making it 45-42 after three periods.
Ezeonu scored to open the fourth, getting the Redhawks within a point. GCU scored next, but a few minutes later, Murphy found space and splashed a three-ball to even the game at 47 with 6:52 to go. The hosts scored on their next trip, but Sanders hit Vice-Neat in the corner, where she swished another trey, giving SU a 50-49 lead with 6:04 left.
Free throws put Grand Canyon back up, but Sanders nailed a pull-up jumper to tie the game at 52 at the 2:48 mark. GCU had the closing kick, though.
The Redhawks play at CSU Bakersfield on Saturday to wrap this weekend's WAC action. Tip-off is slated for noon at CSUB.
"Kamira and Hailey's play kept us in the game with big baskets and hustle plays," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "We put ourselves in a very good position to win the game, but could not execute the critical plays to push us over the top tonight."
A Sanders jump shot made it 52-all with 2:48 remaining. GCU quickly took an eight-point lead after that, but SU (12-13, 6-6 WAC) refused to quit. The Redhawks forced two turnovers, as Hailey Vice-Neat made a three-pointer and a layup to get within 60-57 with 18 seconds left. The hosts made three foul shots to create room, and a Joana Alves three was not enough as time expired.
Sanders tallied 23 points on 10-18 shooting, adding six assists, four rebounds, and two steals on a night that saw her move into eighth on the program's all-time scoring list.
Vice-Neat posted a career-high 19 points on 7-11 shooting, including 4-7 three-point shooting. She grabbed five boards on the night.
GCU was able to play its preferred methodical pace in the first half, draining the shot clock into single digits on many possessions. The home side scored first, but Vice-Neat answered with a three-point play. GCU went ahead by four, but Vice-Neat posted up and scored again to make it 7-5 early.
The hosts looked to gain control, scoring four quick points, but Sanders scored on a lay-in and then Courtney Murphy swished a straight-on three from Olivia Crawford. A Sanders steal and layup made it a one-point difference with 2:30 left in the frame. The senior drove and converted a three-point play for a 15-13 SU edge. GCU closed with three points to claim a 16-15 advantage after a frame.
In the second quarter, the Lopes went up, 19-15, before Joana Alves scored and Sanders made another jump into a passing lane, stealing the ball and cruising in for a tying bucket. The layup gave Sanders 1,351 career points, passing Lisa Hill for eighth on Seattle U's all-time scoring list.
GCU scored next, but Sanders set up an Alves hoop to tie it up again. Chinwe Ezeonu split two foul shots and Alves connected on a pair at the line, but Grand Canyon scored last and took a 28-24 margin into halftime.
GCU scored first in the third period, but Vice-Neat drained a top-of-the-key trey on the other end. Sanders took over after that, scoring 12 straight Redhawk points as she battled to keep her side in the contest. The senior made a layup and then a jumper, and after a Lope score, Sanders drove and finished inside to keep it a one-point margin with 5:10 showing on the clock.
Another Sanders basket allowed SU to stay close before GCU went up by four. A Sanders and-one made it 39-38, but again, the Lopes replied, going ahead, 43-38, late in the frame. Sanders sank a free throw, and after a GCU hoop, Vice-Neat hit a triple with 27 seconds left, making it 45-42 after three periods.
Ezeonu scored to open the fourth, getting the Redhawks within a point. GCU scored next, but a few minutes later, Murphy found space and splashed a three-ball to even the game at 47 with 6:52 to go. The hosts scored on their next trip, but Sanders hit Vice-Neat in the corner, where she swished another trey, giving SU a 50-49 lead with 6:04 left.
Free throws put Grand Canyon back up, but Sanders nailed a pull-up jumper to tie the game at 52 at the 2:48 mark. GCU had the closing kick, though.
The Redhawks play at CSU Bakersfield on Saturday to wrap this weekend's WAC action. Tip-off is slated for noon at CSUB.