SEATTLE – Seattle University women's basketball pulled out a 75-72 overtime win over Utah State on Thursday afternoon. Maddy Phillips made a tying three-pointer to force OT and Bree Calhoun sank a go-ahead trey late in overtime to lift SU to a non-conference win over Redhawk Center.
"That was a tremendous win," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "We needed it. It was a tremendous effort on the glass and then big threes by Maddy and Bree and two big free throws by Madison."
Trailing 63-56 with under three minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Redhawks needed to execute down the stretch. Calhoun grabbed an offensive rebound and found Georgia Kehoe, who drove and scored while being fouled. After an Aggie hoop, Kehoe finished again to make it a four-point difference with 1:38 to play. Utah State scored, but Calhoun set up a Courtney Murphy lay-in. The visitors split two foul shots and then Hailey Vice-Neat swished a triple with 21 seconds remaining to pull within 67-65. USU hit its first free throw on the other end, but missed the second, keeping the door open for the Redhawks.
Murphy had a clean look to tie the game, but just missed. Calhoun hustled for the rebound and the ball went out of bounds off an Aggie. SU called timeout and drew up a play for Phillips, who popped free for a corner three in front of the home bench. The shot was true, tying the game with 11 seconds to go. The Redhawks came up with a defensive stop to send the match to extra time.
Utah State scored the first four points of OT, but Seattle U locked in from there, keeping the Aggies off the scoreboard for the final 3:32 of play. Phillips made a jumper off a McKenzi Williams offensive rebound to trim the deficit. Williams pulled down a defensive rebound on USU's next possession, initiating a fast break trip. Calhoun's shot attempt was stopped, but she corralled the loose ball and passed to Vice-Neat on the wing. Calhoun ran to the vacated spot at the top of the key and stepped into an open three. Her shot splashed through for a 73-72 lead with 1:23 showing on the clock.
Ezeonu came away with the rebound on the visitors' next trip and Madison DuBois calmly sank two free throws for a three-point margin. Another defensive stand allowed SU to celebrate its first win of the young season.
Seattle U totaled 66 rebounds, including 24 offensive rebounds, on the day. The number is a high in the Barcomb era and the most by a Redhawk team since Dec. 17, 2010 (71 at Sacramento State). It also made 25-32 free throws, marking its most made foul shots in a game since Jan. 2, 2016 (29 at CSUN).
Murphy put up 15 points and five rebounds in her season debut off the bench. Vice-Neat recorded 13 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes of action. Kehoe put up 13 points to go with five boards and four steals in her first action of the year. Williams added 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, while Ezeonu tallied 11 boards.
The Redhawks had everything going except for the ability to finish shots as the game began. Utah State jumped out to a 7-0 lead, but the SU defense tightened as the period continued. Williams scored and then Kehoe hit two free throws. After an Aggie hoop, Murphy scored inside and then Vice-Neat swished a triple to make it 9-9 with 3:01 left in the frame.
The visitors regained the lead, but Vice-Neat sank another three-ball to get within a point. Utah State closed the period with a banked-in three for a 16-12 margin after 10 minutes.
In the second quarter, the teams battled back and forth in search of control of the contest. Kehoe finished inside to start a 7-0 burst. Ezeonu scored on a putback and a Phillips jumper made it 19-16 SU at the 7:45 mark. A Murphy score gave the hosts a 21-16 advantage.
Utah State quickly responded with a 7-0 spurt of its own to take back the lead. Williams swished two foul shots and then Murphy converted three free throws after being hit on a triple try. Bree Calhoun then split two foul shots before the visitors capped the half with the final five points for a 28-27 edge.
The defenses carried the day as the game rolled on. Kehoe scored and then Murphy splashed a three-pointer for a 32-30 lead with 7:21 remaining in the third. Utah State answered with eight straight points to go back up. Peyton Howard and Kehoe connected at the foul line to keep SU close and then Howard's layup in the closing seconds pulled the hosts within 41-40 through three periods.
The Aggies looked to pull away early in the fourth, scoring the first five points of the quarter. Four Williams free throws slowed USU's momentum. Kehoe then set up a Murphy trey to level the contest at 48 with 6:58 left.
The visitors scored the next four points, but Vice-Neat nailed a three-pointer to make it a one-point game again. Utah State followed by going ahead, 63-56, on a pair of free throws with 2:40 remaining. SU rallied from there, though, pulling out the decision in OT.
SU travels to the University of Portland on Sunday. Tip-off is slated for noon for the rematch from Nov. 25, when the Pilots beat the Redhawks, 82-70, at the Redhawk Center.
"That was a tremendous win," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "We needed it. It was a tremendous effort on the glass and then big threes by Maddy and Bree and two big free throws by Madison."
Trailing 63-56 with under three minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Redhawks needed to execute down the stretch. Calhoun grabbed an offensive rebound and found Georgia Kehoe, who drove and scored while being fouled. After an Aggie hoop, Kehoe finished again to make it a four-point difference with 1:38 to play. Utah State scored, but Calhoun set up a Courtney Murphy lay-in. The visitors split two foul shots and then Hailey Vice-Neat swished a triple with 21 seconds remaining to pull within 67-65. USU hit its first free throw on the other end, but missed the second, keeping the door open for the Redhawks.
Murphy had a clean look to tie the game, but just missed. Calhoun hustled for the rebound and the ball went out of bounds off an Aggie. SU called timeout and drew up a play for Phillips, who popped free for a corner three in front of the home bench. The shot was true, tying the game with 11 seconds to go. The Redhawks came up with a defensive stop to send the match to extra time.
Utah State scored the first four points of OT, but Seattle U locked in from there, keeping the Aggies off the scoreboard for the final 3:32 of play. Phillips made a jumper off a McKenzi Williams offensive rebound to trim the deficit. Williams pulled down a defensive rebound on USU's next possession, initiating a fast break trip. Calhoun's shot attempt was stopped, but she corralled the loose ball and passed to Vice-Neat on the wing. Calhoun ran to the vacated spot at the top of the key and stepped into an open three. Her shot splashed through for a 73-72 lead with 1:23 showing on the clock.
Ezeonu came away with the rebound on the visitors' next trip and Madison DuBois calmly sank two free throws for a three-point margin. Another defensive stand allowed SU to celebrate its first win of the young season.
Seattle U totaled 66 rebounds, including 24 offensive rebounds, on the day. The number is a high in the Barcomb era and the most by a Redhawk team since Dec. 17, 2010 (71 at Sacramento State). It also made 25-32 free throws, marking its most made foul shots in a game since Jan. 2, 2016 (29 at CSUN).
Murphy put up 15 points and five rebounds in her season debut off the bench. Vice-Neat recorded 13 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes of action. Kehoe put up 13 points to go with five boards and four steals in her first action of the year. Williams added 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, while Ezeonu tallied 11 boards.
The Redhawks had everything going except for the ability to finish shots as the game began. Utah State jumped out to a 7-0 lead, but the SU defense tightened as the period continued. Williams scored and then Kehoe hit two free throws. After an Aggie hoop, Murphy scored inside and then Vice-Neat swished a triple to make it 9-9 with 3:01 left in the frame.
The visitors regained the lead, but Vice-Neat sank another three-ball to get within a point. Utah State closed the period with a banked-in three for a 16-12 margin after 10 minutes.
In the second quarter, the teams battled back and forth in search of control of the contest. Kehoe finished inside to start a 7-0 burst. Ezeonu scored on a putback and a Phillips jumper made it 19-16 SU at the 7:45 mark. A Murphy score gave the hosts a 21-16 advantage.
Utah State quickly responded with a 7-0 spurt of its own to take back the lead. Williams swished two foul shots and then Murphy converted three free throws after being hit on a triple try. Bree Calhoun then split two foul shots before the visitors capped the half with the final five points for a 28-27 edge.
The defenses carried the day as the game rolled on. Kehoe scored and then Murphy splashed a three-pointer for a 32-30 lead with 7:21 remaining in the third. Utah State answered with eight straight points to go back up. Peyton Howard and Kehoe connected at the foul line to keep SU close and then Howard's layup in the closing seconds pulled the hosts within 41-40 through three periods.
The Aggies looked to pull away early in the fourth, scoring the first five points of the quarter. Four Williams free throws slowed USU's momentum. Kehoe then set up a Murphy trey to level the contest at 48 with 6:58 left.
The visitors scored the next four points, but Vice-Neat nailed a three-pointer to make it a one-point game again. Utah State followed by going ahead, 63-56, on a pair of free throws with 2:40 remaining. SU rallied from there, though, pulling out the decision in OT.
SU travels to the University of Portland on Sunday. Tip-off is slated for noon for the rematch from Nov. 25, when the Pilots beat the Redhawks, 82-70, at the Redhawk Center.