SEATTLE – Seattle University women's basketball put together a strong 2019-20 season that ended on a high note that should propel the Redhawks to greater heights in 2020-21.
In its fourth year under Coach Suzy Barcomb, SU increased its win total by 10 wins from the 2018-19 campaign. The Redhawks reeled off four straight wins in December and then notched a five-game win streak in WAC play.
In December, SU opened a home stand with a tough setback against Montana State. It followed by winning four in a row at the Redhawk Center. The Redhawks beat Sacramento State, 88-84, on kids' day, as five players scored in double figures to lead a balanced attack. Georgia Kehoe put up 16 points and seven rebounds, while Chinwe Ezeonu logged 15 points and eight boards.
Two days later, Courtney Murphy scored 19 points to lead four Redhawks in double figures in a 66-54 win over Long Beach State. SU outrebounded LBSU, 49-30, in the contest. Murphy continued her stellar stretch with 21 points on six threes in an easy win over Warner Pacific on Dec. 14. The Redhawks then headed to Cal Poly, where Murphy hit five first-half treys to ignite the offense on the way to a 72-49 victory over the Mustangs.
In conference action, SU had a tough start before bouncing back with five straight wins in late January into February. Joana Alves went off for 26 points to lead the Redhawks to a key 63-57 win over CSU Bakersfield on Jan. 25. The next weekend, Alves scored 18 points to lead five Redhawks in double-digit scoring as SU rolled to an 83-49 win at California Baptist.
Back home on Feb. 8, the Redhawks played their most exciting game of the season, toppling Utah Valley, 82-80 in overtime. Hailey Vice-Neat made three late free throws in regulation, forcing overtime. Vice-Neat swished a top-of-the-key three with 5.4 seconds left in OT, lifting SU to victory. She posted 18 points and 11 rebounds on her way to claiming WAC Player of the Week honors.
On Feb. 13, Kamira Sanders tallied 19 points and Alves added 12 points and 13 rebounds in a 67-57 win over defending WAC champion New Mexico State. A strong third period created separation in a 78-70 win over UTRGV two days later, as four Redhawks contributed at least 10 points to stretch the win streak to five.
The Redhawks struggled to close the regular season, but headed to Las Vegas with hopes of winning the WAC Tournament. SU put together one of its most complete performances of the year in a 61-48 win over UVU in the WAC Tournament. Sanders (21) and Alves (20) combined for 41 points as the Redhawks held the Wolverines to 28 percent shooting from the field. The excitement was limited, though, as the season was canceled the next day due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sanders capped a terrific career with her best season as a Redhawk. The senior guard earned All-WAC First Team honors, along with being named WAC Defensive Player of the Year and WAC All-Defensive. Sanders paced the WAC with 17.7 points and 2.6 steals per game in 28 games. The native of Redding, Calif., scored a career-high 30 points in two different outings, dropping 30 at Utah State on Nov. 9 and then again at Northern Arizona on Nov. 16. Sanders finished her career with 1,439 points, good for eighth in program history. She recorded 232 career steals, third-most in school history. She also ranks in the top 10 in made free throws, made field goals, and assists at SU.
Alves put up 12. 9 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game as a senior. She scored a single-game school-record 34 points against California Baptist on Feb. 29, marking her final home game with a standout performance. Her 15 made field goals in the contest also marked a program record.
Murphy logged 11.0 points per game, hitting a team-leading 67 three-pointers on the year. She set a new career high with her six made treys in consecutive outings in December.
Vice-Neat returned from injury to play the final 13 games of the season. She put up 8.8 points and 5.2 boards per game, including her standout performance against UVU on Feb. 8.
The Redhawks will lose a strong senior class, as Sanders, Alves, Olivia Crawford, Genessa, Bedoya, and Carla Bieg will graduate in June. Murphy and Vice-Neat lead a solid group of returners for the 2020-21 campaign.
In its fourth year under Coach Suzy Barcomb, SU increased its win total by 10 wins from the 2018-19 campaign. The Redhawks reeled off four straight wins in December and then notched a five-game win streak in WAC play.
In December, SU opened a home stand with a tough setback against Montana State. It followed by winning four in a row at the Redhawk Center. The Redhawks beat Sacramento State, 88-84, on kids' day, as five players scored in double figures to lead a balanced attack. Georgia Kehoe put up 16 points and seven rebounds, while Chinwe Ezeonu logged 15 points and eight boards.
Two days later, Courtney Murphy scored 19 points to lead four Redhawks in double figures in a 66-54 win over Long Beach State. SU outrebounded LBSU, 49-30, in the contest. Murphy continued her stellar stretch with 21 points on six threes in an easy win over Warner Pacific on Dec. 14. The Redhawks then headed to Cal Poly, where Murphy hit five first-half treys to ignite the offense on the way to a 72-49 victory over the Mustangs.
In conference action, SU had a tough start before bouncing back with five straight wins in late January into February. Joana Alves went off for 26 points to lead the Redhawks to a key 63-57 win over CSU Bakersfield on Jan. 25. The next weekend, Alves scored 18 points to lead five Redhawks in double-digit scoring as SU rolled to an 83-49 win at California Baptist.
Back home on Feb. 8, the Redhawks played their most exciting game of the season, toppling Utah Valley, 82-80 in overtime. Hailey Vice-Neat made three late free throws in regulation, forcing overtime. Vice-Neat swished a top-of-the-key three with 5.4 seconds left in OT, lifting SU to victory. She posted 18 points and 11 rebounds on her way to claiming WAC Player of the Week honors.
On Feb. 13, Kamira Sanders tallied 19 points and Alves added 12 points and 13 rebounds in a 67-57 win over defending WAC champion New Mexico State. A strong third period created separation in a 78-70 win over UTRGV two days later, as four Redhawks contributed at least 10 points to stretch the win streak to five.
The Redhawks struggled to close the regular season, but headed to Las Vegas with hopes of winning the WAC Tournament. SU put together one of its most complete performances of the year in a 61-48 win over UVU in the WAC Tournament. Sanders (21) and Alves (20) combined for 41 points as the Redhawks held the Wolverines to 28 percent shooting from the field. The excitement was limited, though, as the season was canceled the next day due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sanders capped a terrific career with her best season as a Redhawk. The senior guard earned All-WAC First Team honors, along with being named WAC Defensive Player of the Year and WAC All-Defensive. Sanders paced the WAC with 17.7 points and 2.6 steals per game in 28 games. The native of Redding, Calif., scored a career-high 30 points in two different outings, dropping 30 at Utah State on Nov. 9 and then again at Northern Arizona on Nov. 16. Sanders finished her career with 1,439 points, good for eighth in program history. She recorded 232 career steals, third-most in school history. She also ranks in the top 10 in made free throws, made field goals, and assists at SU.
Alves put up 12. 9 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game as a senior. She scored a single-game school-record 34 points against California Baptist on Feb. 29, marking her final home game with a standout performance. Her 15 made field goals in the contest also marked a program record.
Murphy logged 11.0 points per game, hitting a team-leading 67 three-pointers on the year. She set a new career high with her six made treys in consecutive outings in December.
Vice-Neat returned from injury to play the final 13 games of the season. She put up 8.8 points and 5.2 boards per game, including her standout performance against UVU on Feb. 8.
The Redhawks will lose a strong senior class, as Sanders, Alves, Olivia Crawford, Genessa, Bedoya, and Carla Bieg will graduate in June. Murphy and Vice-Neat lead a solid group of returners for the 2020-21 campaign.