OREM, Utah – Seattle University women's basketball fell behind early, rallied in the third quarter, but came up short, 78-66, at Utah Valley Saturday. McKenzi Williams led with 20 points in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) game at the UCCU Center.
"Our slow start put us behind the 8-ball again," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "We battled back numerous times, but couldn't get over the hump. McKenzi played well tonight, knocking down big buckets to get us back in the game."
The home side controlled the first half, but Seattle U got rolling in the third frame, scoring 22 points as it moved the ball well and worked hard to keep the Wolverines off the glass. The Redhawks made five of their first six shots of the half, igniting a 12-4 run to get closer. Chinwe Ezeonu scored on a putback, and after a UVU bucket, Georgia Kehoe made a layup. SU earned a defensive stop and Williams came back with a three-ball. The hosts scored next, but Bree Calhoun drove and scored and on the next possession, she set up another Williams trey, making it 46-40 with 7:04 to play. Later in the period, Calhoun scored twice more and Kehoe made a lay-in as SU got within 57-50 through three quarters.
The Wolverines managed to do enough to maintain their margin in the final frame, leading by 14 with under five minutes remaining. Williams did her best to keep SU in the game, sinking two threes and a jumper to make it a six-point difference with 2:34 showing on the clock. UVU made all eight of its free-throw attempts down the stretch, though, finishing the weekend sweep in Orem.
Williams tallied 20 points on 7-14 shooting. Calhoun put up 12 points, eight assists, and four steals. Kehoe posted eight points and a career-high 13 rebounds, while Irena Korolenko added a personal-best 10 points off the bench.
Ezeonu scored the first basket of the contest and later Korelenko drained a three, but Utah Valley grabbed a 25-7 lead after 10 minutes.
The Redhawks fared better in the second period, mixing solid three-point shooting with penetrating drives into the lane. Peyton Howard hit a trey, but UVU went ahead, 34-10, early in the quarter. A Maddy Phillips triple sparked what became a 14-2 burst for SU. Phillips blocked a shot on the other end and Calhoun sank a jumper. Calhoun followed with a steal and a terrific bounce pass to find Korolenko for a layup. Phillips nailed another trey, and after a UVU hoop, Calhoun and Korolenko each scored, cutting the deficit to 36-24 at the 3:02 mark.
Ezeonu and Williams both made two foul shots in the closing moments of the half, as the Wolverines ended the first half up, 42-28.
SU (4-7, 0-2 WAC) returns home to welcome new WAC member Tarleton State for a pair of league games next weekend. Tip-off on Friday, Jan. 22 is slated for 3 p.m. at the Redhawk Center.
"Our slow start put us behind the 8-ball again," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "We battled back numerous times, but couldn't get over the hump. McKenzi played well tonight, knocking down big buckets to get us back in the game."
The home side controlled the first half, but Seattle U got rolling in the third frame, scoring 22 points as it moved the ball well and worked hard to keep the Wolverines off the glass. The Redhawks made five of their first six shots of the half, igniting a 12-4 run to get closer. Chinwe Ezeonu scored on a putback, and after a UVU bucket, Georgia Kehoe made a layup. SU earned a defensive stop and Williams came back with a three-ball. The hosts scored next, but Bree Calhoun drove and scored and on the next possession, she set up another Williams trey, making it 46-40 with 7:04 to play. Later in the period, Calhoun scored twice more and Kehoe made a lay-in as SU got within 57-50 through three quarters.
The Wolverines managed to do enough to maintain their margin in the final frame, leading by 14 with under five minutes remaining. Williams did her best to keep SU in the game, sinking two threes and a jumper to make it a six-point difference with 2:34 showing on the clock. UVU made all eight of its free-throw attempts down the stretch, though, finishing the weekend sweep in Orem.
Williams tallied 20 points on 7-14 shooting. Calhoun put up 12 points, eight assists, and four steals. Kehoe posted eight points and a career-high 13 rebounds, while Irena Korolenko added a personal-best 10 points off the bench.
Ezeonu scored the first basket of the contest and later Korelenko drained a three, but Utah Valley grabbed a 25-7 lead after 10 minutes.
The Redhawks fared better in the second period, mixing solid three-point shooting with penetrating drives into the lane. Peyton Howard hit a trey, but UVU went ahead, 34-10, early in the quarter. A Maddy Phillips triple sparked what became a 14-2 burst for SU. Phillips blocked a shot on the other end and Calhoun sank a jumper. Calhoun followed with a steal and a terrific bounce pass to find Korolenko for a layup. Phillips nailed another trey, and after a UVU hoop, Calhoun and Korolenko each scored, cutting the deficit to 36-24 at the 3:02 mark.
Ezeonu and Williams both made two foul shots in the closing moments of the half, as the Wolverines ended the first half up, 42-28.
SU (4-7, 0-2 WAC) returns home to welcome new WAC member Tarleton State for a pair of league games next weekend. Tip-off on Friday, Jan. 22 is slated for 3 p.m. at the Redhawk Center.