SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Seattle U Redhawks rode a big defensive first half to a 71-67 road win over the Sacramento State Hornets. Courtney Murphy led the way with 21 points, her fifth career 20-point game. Bree Calhoun had 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting, including 11 points in 13 minutes in the first half.
"It was a gut check for this team and we answered against a talented Sacramento State team," said Head Coach Suzy Barcomb.
The Redhawks move to 2-2 on the season after splitting a pair of games on this week's California road trip.
The Redhawks held Sacramento State to just 37% shooting in the first half, stifling the Hornets en route to a six-point lead. Jadynn Alexander had three steals in the first quarter and hounded Lianna Tillman, Sacramento State's leading scorer, to 4-for-13 shooting in the first 20 minutes.
"We wanted to make Tillman work for every shot and today I think we did that," said Barcomb.
That lead only grew in the third, with McKenzi Williams nearly outscoring Sacramento State by herself, 11 to 12. Williams would finished with 15 points, including three three-pointers, her most this season.
The fourth quarter saw the game tighten as Sacramento State headed to the line 16 times, picking up ten points at the line. The Redhawks held firm, hitting all eight of their free throws in the final minute of the game to keep the win in hand.
The Redhawks head to Las Vegas for two neutral-site games next week. First, Seattle U will play SMU on Thursday, November 25 at 6:00 pm PT. Seattle U will take on UTEP the next day, also at 6:00 pm PT.
NOTES
"It was a gut check for this team and we answered against a talented Sacramento State team," said Head Coach Suzy Barcomb.
The Redhawks move to 2-2 on the season after splitting a pair of games on this week's California road trip.
The Redhawks held Sacramento State to just 37% shooting in the first half, stifling the Hornets en route to a six-point lead. Jadynn Alexander had three steals in the first quarter and hounded Lianna Tillman, Sacramento State's leading scorer, to 4-for-13 shooting in the first 20 minutes.
"We wanted to make Tillman work for every shot and today I think we did that," said Barcomb.
That lead only grew in the third, with McKenzi Williams nearly outscoring Sacramento State by herself, 11 to 12. Williams would finished with 15 points, including three three-pointers, her most this season.
The fourth quarter saw the game tighten as Sacramento State headed to the line 16 times, picking up ten points at the line. The Redhawks held firm, hitting all eight of their free throws in the final minute of the game to keep the win in hand.
3Q | Bree wins the loose ball and that's another Kenzi 3??to go over 700 points in her career!
— Seattle U Women's Basketball (@seattleu_wbb) November 20, 2021
SU 49
Sac State 35 pic.twitter.com/WBa3fWgiAz
The Redhawks head to Las Vegas for two neutral-site games next week. First, Seattle U will play SMU on Thursday, November 25 at 6:00 pm PT. Seattle U will take on UTEP the next day, also at 6:00 pm PT.
NOTES
- Georgia Kehoe moved to tenth in Seattle U Division I history in blocks, recording the 47th in her career.
- Murphy has five or more rebounds in every game this year.
- Williams reached the 700-point mark in her career.
- Murphy's 17 points were her highest since a 22-point performance against Idaho on November 20, 2019.
- In two career games against Sacramento State, Murphy has 38 points.