CHICAGO – Seattle University women's basketball rallied for a 70-57 win at Chicago State on Friday afternoon. The Redhawks scored 29 points in the third period to swing the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) game at the Jones Convocation Center.
"We had a very slow start and Chicago State's great energy led to a huge deficit," said SU Coach Suzy Barcomb. "It was a wake-up call for us and we seemed to respond in the third quarter."
Chicago State got the better of the first half, leading by nine, but SU (7-7, 3-2 WAC) was ready with a tremendous third quarter to take over the game. The Redhawks' full-court press clamped down on the Cougars, harassing the hosts all over the floor. To spark a 12-0 spurt, McKenzi Williams made a steal that led to an Irena Korolenko layup. A Bree Calhoun jumper cut the deficit further. After a Cougar timeout, Calhoun scored again. Chinwe Ezeonu made a steal and Williams followed with a free throw. After a Williams steal, Calhoun split two foul shots. SU came up with another turnover and Georgia Kehoe swished from straight on to take a 31-30 edge at the 5:32 mark. Another CSU turnover set up a Kehoe hoop that made it 33-30. The hosts finally scored, but Williams immediately came back with a layup.
Williams scored again a couple minutes later and the SU press forced another giveaway that led to a Makenna Schoenhofer bucket in the lane. A Hailey Vice-Neat steal initiated a Kehoe lay-in that gave Seattle U a 41-34 advantage with 3:14 to go in the third. The Cougars rallied to tie the game at 41, but Ezeonu scored and then Calhoun stole the ball and went in for a layup to regain the lead. Williams closed her stellar quarter with a triple and then Kehoe scored in the final seconds for a 50-44 margin through three.
The Redhawks shot 13-17 from the field in the third frame, scoring 29 points. They recorded 12 Cougar turnovers in the 10-minute span.
Williams began the fourth with a steal and a basket. Kehoe scored again to make it a 10-point difference with under nine minutes remaining. Two more Kehoe hoops stretched the lead and later, Ezeonu finished a three-point play for a 63-49 advantage. A Peyton Howard trey put the final nail in the Cougar coffin as the Redhawks celebrated their third straight conference victory.
Kehoe led with 18 points to go with five rebounds, three blocks, and a pair of steals. Calhoun compiled 14 points, a career-high nine assists, and four steals. Williams put up 12 points and four thefts, while Ezeonu added nine points and six boards. Korolenko scored eight points. The Redhawks forced a season-high 26 turnovers on a season-best 16 steals, leading to 30 SU points.
Despite an early three by Korolenko and layups from Ezeonu and Hailey Vice-Neat, SU found itself trailing in the first quarter. The hosts went on a 12-0 run to take control of the action. Ezeonu scored again and then she set up another Korolenko trey late in the frame as the Redhawks pulled within 18-12 after one.
Kehoe scored early in the second period, but the Cougars again looked to establish control, going ahead by 11 later in the half. Calhoun sank a three-ball, but the home team eventually grabbed a 13-point margin. Calhoun and Kehoe scored in the final minute to make it 30-21 at halftime.
The teams square off again tomorrow. Tip-off is slated for noon Pacific (2 p.m. Central) at the Jones Convocation Center.
"We had a very slow start and Chicago State's great energy led to a huge deficit," said SU Coach Suzy Barcomb. "It was a wake-up call for us and we seemed to respond in the third quarter."
Chicago State got the better of the first half, leading by nine, but SU (7-7, 3-2 WAC) was ready with a tremendous third quarter to take over the game. The Redhawks' full-court press clamped down on the Cougars, harassing the hosts all over the floor. To spark a 12-0 spurt, McKenzi Williams made a steal that led to an Irena Korolenko layup. A Bree Calhoun jumper cut the deficit further. After a Cougar timeout, Calhoun scored again. Chinwe Ezeonu made a steal and Williams followed with a free throw. After a Williams steal, Calhoun split two foul shots. SU came up with another turnover and Georgia Kehoe swished from straight on to take a 31-30 edge at the 5:32 mark. Another CSU turnover set up a Kehoe hoop that made it 33-30. The hosts finally scored, but Williams immediately came back with a layup.
Williams scored again a couple minutes later and the SU press forced another giveaway that led to a Makenna Schoenhofer bucket in the lane. A Hailey Vice-Neat steal initiated a Kehoe lay-in that gave Seattle U a 41-34 advantage with 3:14 to go in the third. The Cougars rallied to tie the game at 41, but Ezeonu scored and then Calhoun stole the ball and went in for a layup to regain the lead. Williams closed her stellar quarter with a triple and then Kehoe scored in the final seconds for a 50-44 margin through three.
The Redhawks shot 13-17 from the field in the third frame, scoring 29 points. They recorded 12 Cougar turnovers in the 10-minute span.
Williams began the fourth with a steal and a basket. Kehoe scored again to make it a 10-point difference with under nine minutes remaining. Two more Kehoe hoops stretched the lead and later, Ezeonu finished a three-point play for a 63-49 advantage. A Peyton Howard trey put the final nail in the Cougar coffin as the Redhawks celebrated their third straight conference victory.
Kehoe led with 18 points to go with five rebounds, three blocks, and a pair of steals. Calhoun compiled 14 points, a career-high nine assists, and four steals. Williams put up 12 points and four thefts, while Ezeonu added nine points and six boards. Korolenko scored eight points. The Redhawks forced a season-high 26 turnovers on a season-best 16 steals, leading to 30 SU points.
Despite an early three by Korolenko and layups from Ezeonu and Hailey Vice-Neat, SU found itself trailing in the first quarter. The hosts went on a 12-0 run to take control of the action. Ezeonu scored again and then she set up another Korolenko trey late in the frame as the Redhawks pulled within 18-12 after one.
Kehoe scored early in the second period, but the Cougars again looked to establish control, going ahead by 11 later in the half. Calhoun sank a three-ball, but the home team eventually grabbed a 13-point margin. Calhoun and Kehoe scored in the final minute to make it 30-21 at halftime.
The teams square off again tomorrow. Tip-off is slated for noon Pacific (2 p.m. Central) at the Jones Convocation Center.