SEATTLE - In front of a vibrant home crowd at the Redhawk Center, Seattle U women's basketball (4-25, 1-15 WAC) catapulted into the win column, downing Utah Tech (5-24, 1-15 WAC) 69-65 in a thriller to capture that elusive conference win as a parting gift to its three seniors on Senior Day.
A befitting moment for the three year Redhawk and local Tacoma, Washington product, senior Julianna Walker led the team with 16 points, posting four triples and four makes from the free throw line, shooting 4-of-6 from behind the arc. One triple came as a half-court heave in the first quarter. The senior guard added a block, a steal, an assist and two rebounds to fill out her stat line across the board in her final home game at the Redhawk Center.
Graduate Christeina Bryan, along with Walker, was one of four Redhawks to score in double-digits. She posted 12 points coming off the bench, shooting 45.4 percent from the floor. Bryan went a perfect 2-for-2 from the free throw line and picked up seven rebounds, including three offensive boards.
Freshman Candy Edokpaigbe posted her second double-double of her career, recording 13 points and 10 rebounds, including three offensive boards. She catalogued four made field goals and four free throws in 33 minutes of action. Edokpaigbe grabbed a new career high six steals while matching her career high in blocks, recording three. She also handed out three assists, one shy of her career high.
Rounding out the quad of double digit scorers was redshirt junior Tamia Stricklin. She also scored 13 for the Redhawks, connecting for six made field goals including a triple. Stricklin, along with Bryan and Edokpaigbe, accounted for three offensive boards, tallying six rebounds in total.
Freshman Sydnie Rodriguez and redshirt sophomore Olivia Moore combined for 13 points. Moore shot perfect from the charity stripe while picking up a block and a steal. Rodriguez added six of the Redhawks' 42 rebounds. Redshirt sophomore Sheridan Liggett facilitated the Redhawk offense with a team leading five assists on the day.
As a unit, SU matched a game high of six blocks, while leading the Trailblazers in steals (10) and rebounds (42). The Redhawks produced 14 points from their bench compared to the seven from Utah Tech, while also holding the edge in points scored off turnovers 17-16. Seattle U paced the Trailblazers in points scored in the paint 30-28.
Both teams scored 13 points from free throws, though the Redhawks shot a combined 92.9 percent from the line compared to Utah Tech's 56.5 percent. Seattle U held Utah Tech to 36.7 percent shooting on the day.
The Trailblazers led by as many as seven in the opening minutes of action as the Redhawk offense got off to a slow start. Two Redhawk seniors, in Walker and Bryan, put SU on a 5-0 run to even the contest 13-all with just under four minutes in the first quarter. The pair extended the run an additional four points to grant SU its first lead of the game. After Utah Tech grabbed the one point lead off a made free throw, Walker heaved a half court shot to take the lead 20-18 at the end of the first.
A trade off back and forth second quarter would land in favor of the Redhawks as they would carry the lead 31-29 into the half off a lay up from Stricklin with under thirty seconds until the break.
Seattle U scored 21 points in the third quarter behind an 11-2 run through the opening five minutes. Moore started the run with a three point play. The Redhawks led by as many as 12 after Edokpaigbe scored five, including a three point play with just under three minutes to play in the third. Despite a late lay up from Utah Tech, Seattle U retained the lead by six, 52-46, heading into the final 10 minutes.
Utah Tech would only out score the Redhawks in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late as the Redhawk fought tenaciously to retain the lead. The Trailblazers would only hold a lead for one minute in the fourth quarter, fighting back against the Redhawks after they trailed by ten following a lay up from Rodriguez.
With 1:14 left to play and down by only one, Walker connected for her fourth triple of the day to take back the lead 66-64. The Trailblazers would score one free throw through the remainder as they sent both Walker and Edokpaigbe to the line in the final twelve seconds. The pair combined for three makes to give the Redhawks the four point lead. Utah Tech inbounded after advancing the ball up the court out of a timeout, but the final shot ricocheted off the rim and Seattle U emerged victorious 69-65.
The Redhawks prepare for the opening rounds of the WAC tournament, heading to St. George, Utah to revisit Utah Tech on Tuesday, March 11 for the play-in game at Burns Arena. Tip off is set for 11:00 AM PT.
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Stay connected with Seattle U women's basketball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.
A befitting moment for the three year Redhawk and local Tacoma, Washington product, senior Julianna Walker led the team with 16 points, posting four triples and four makes from the free throw line, shooting 4-of-6 from behind the arc. One triple came as a half-court heave in the first quarter. The senior guard added a block, a steal, an assist and two rebounds to fill out her stat line across the board in her final home game at the Redhawk Center.
Graduate Christeina Bryan, along with Walker, was one of four Redhawks to score in double-digits. She posted 12 points coming off the bench, shooting 45.4 percent from the floor. Bryan went a perfect 2-for-2 from the free throw line and picked up seven rebounds, including three offensive boards.
Freshman Candy Edokpaigbe posted her second double-double of her career, recording 13 points and 10 rebounds, including three offensive boards. She catalogued four made field goals and four free throws in 33 minutes of action. Edokpaigbe grabbed a new career high six steals while matching her career high in blocks, recording three. She also handed out three assists, one shy of her career high.
Rounding out the quad of double digit scorers was redshirt junior Tamia Stricklin. She also scored 13 for the Redhawks, connecting for six made field goals including a triple. Stricklin, along with Bryan and Edokpaigbe, accounted for three offensive boards, tallying six rebounds in total.
Freshman Sydnie Rodriguez and redshirt sophomore Olivia Moore combined for 13 points. Moore shot perfect from the charity stripe while picking up a block and a steal. Rodriguez added six of the Redhawks' 42 rebounds. Redshirt sophomore Sheridan Liggett facilitated the Redhawk offense with a team leading five assists on the day.
As a unit, SU matched a game high of six blocks, while leading the Trailblazers in steals (10) and rebounds (42). The Redhawks produced 14 points from their bench compared to the seven from Utah Tech, while also holding the edge in points scored off turnovers 17-16. Seattle U paced the Trailblazers in points scored in the paint 30-28.
Both teams scored 13 points from free throws, though the Redhawks shot a combined 92.9 percent from the line compared to Utah Tech's 56.5 percent. Seattle U held Utah Tech to 36.7 percent shooting on the day.
The Trailblazers led by as many as seven in the opening minutes of action as the Redhawk offense got off to a slow start. Two Redhawk seniors, in Walker and Bryan, put SU on a 5-0 run to even the contest 13-all with just under four minutes in the first quarter. The pair extended the run an additional four points to grant SU its first lead of the game. After Utah Tech grabbed the one point lead off a made free throw, Walker heaved a half court shot to take the lead 20-18 at the end of the first.
A trade off back and forth second quarter would land in favor of the Redhawks as they would carry the lead 31-29 into the half off a lay up from Stricklin with under thirty seconds until the break.
Seattle U scored 21 points in the third quarter behind an 11-2 run through the opening five minutes. Moore started the run with a three point play. The Redhawks led by as many as 12 after Edokpaigbe scored five, including a three point play with just under three minutes to play in the third. Despite a late lay up from Utah Tech, Seattle U retained the lead by six, 52-46, heading into the final 10 minutes.
Utah Tech would only out score the Redhawks in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late as the Redhawk fought tenaciously to retain the lead. The Trailblazers would only hold a lead for one minute in the fourth quarter, fighting back against the Redhawks after they trailed by ten following a lay up from Rodriguez.
With 1:14 left to play and down by only one, Walker connected for her fourth triple of the day to take back the lead 66-64. The Trailblazers would score one free throw through the remainder as they sent both Walker and Edokpaigbe to the line in the final twelve seconds. The pair combined for three makes to give the Redhawks the four point lead. Utah Tech inbounded after advancing the ball up the court out of a timeout, but the final shot ricocheted off the rim and Seattle U emerged victorious 69-65.
The Redhawks prepare for the opening rounds of the WAC tournament, heading to St. George, Utah to revisit Utah Tech on Tuesday, March 11 for the play-in game at Burns Arena. Tip off is set for 11:00 AM PT.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a gift to Seattle University Athletics can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly impacts all Redhawk student athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. Thank you for supporting Seattle University Athletics!
Follow Along With the Action
Stay connected with Seattle U women's basketball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.