LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Seattle U women's basketball continues postseason play on Wednesday, facing off with #3 Grand Canyon in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Redhawks and the Lopes will matchup at the Orleans Arena, with tip off scheduled for 8 p.m.
FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS
- Wednesday, March 8 at 8 p.m.
- #11 Seattle U (6-23, 5-13 WAC) vs. #3 Grand Canyon (20-9, WAC 12-6)
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Live Stats
- ESPN+
UPSET ALERT
The Redhawks completed a historic comeback on Monday night, upsetting #6 UT Arlington, 80-78, in the first round of the 2023 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament. After opening the fourth quarter down 10, the Redhawks scored nine straight points to get immediately back in the game. Seattle U would retake the lead for the first time since the second quarter after Asta Blauenfeldt hit the first of two consecutive three-pointers. The contest came down to the very last possession, with Peyton Howard knocking down two clutch free throws in the final four seconds.
Sophomore Taliyah Clark was a key piece in the upset, scoring a game-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal. Freshman Asta Blauenfeldt set a new career-high in scoring (14), shooting 100% from the three-point line (3-for-3). Junior Peyton Howard chipped in 11 points, while both junior Irena Korolenko and sophomore Kari Kyrkjebo had eight.
The Redhawks improved to 7-4 under Head Coach Suzy Barcomb at the WAC Tournament.
DYNAMIC DUO
The Redhawks have had a duo combine for at least 33 points in four of their last five games. Sophomore Taliyah Clark and freshman Asta Blauenfeldt combined for 37 in the first round upset of UT Arlington, with the former finishing two points shy of tying her career-high and the latter setting a new career-high.
Before that, Clark and freshman Mya Moore combined for 33 points against Tarleton, with Clark setting a new career-high in made free throws (11) and the latter finishing one point shy of her career-high.
The junior duo of Peyton Howard and Irena Korolenko combined for 40 and 33 against Utah Valley and Utah Tech. In the win over the Wolverines, the pairing combined to shot 13-for-20 from the field and 8-for-13 from three-point range. Korolenko's 24 points marked a new-career high as well as knocking down six three-pointers. Howard scored 16 points on the afternoon and tied her career-high in rebounds with eight.
CLARK FROM DOWNTOWN
Sophomore Taliyah Clark was on fire from three-point range at Utah Valley on Jan. 26, finishing the evening 7-for-8 from distance to tie Seattle U's DI record for made threes in a single game. Clark's seven threes also ties for the single best three-point performance in the WAC this season.
The native of Lynnwood, Wash., didn't slow down against Utah Tech, knocking down another four three-pointers in a 17 point afternoon. Clark would finish that weekend 11-for-18 from long range for a superb 61%.
SCORING CAREER-HIGHS
10 different Redhawks have recorded new career-highs in scoring this season, with sophomore Taliyah Clark's 25 against Utah Valley in Orem leading the group. Junior Irena Korolenko poured in six threes for 24 points against Utah Valley last week, while fellow junior Peyton Howard scored 21 in the final game of nonconference at UC San Diego.
Sophomore Julianna Walker and freshman Mya Moore both logged 18 against Portland State and Eastern Washington, respectively, while freshman Noemie Bariteau (12), Asta Blauenfeldt (14), Sheridan Liggett (10), Lisa Michaelsen (11) and Makayla Moore (13) have all recorded double-digit games of their own.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Grand Canyon enters the WAC Tournament after falling to Southern Utah, 63-71, in their latest contest on Thursday, March 2. The Lopes are lead by All-WAC First Team and All-WAC Defensive Team member, Tiarra Brown, and All-Defensive Team member, Aaliyah Collins.
The Lopes rank first in the WAC in steals per game at 12.86 and hold the conference's best turnover margin at +4.31. GCU turns the ball over 17.07 times per game, marking the third highest in the WAC and rank last in block shots at 2.07 per game. The Redhawks are 6-13 against Grand Canyon all-time with the Lopes taking the only matchup between two this season, 43-78, in Phoenix. Wednesday evening's contest will mark the first ever time the two meet at the WAC Tournament.
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