MIAMI, Fla.- Graduate Ella Brubaker scored 24 points for a new DI career high to lift Seattle U women’s basketball (3-4) over Presbyterian (2-5) 72-61 inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on day one of the FIU Thanksgiving Classic on Friday afternoon.
Brubaker connected on two of four makes from behind the arc, while knocking down a new career high 10 free throws on 14 attempts. The graduate guard hit 54.5 percent from the floor for six makes, while picking up a block, a steal and four rebounds on the defensive end.
The Redhawks’ senior core all posted double digits in the score column, with graduate Andjela Bigovic scoring 11 while leading the team with three triples. Bigovic also grabbed three rebounds and picked up two blocks. Redshirt senior Tamia Stricklin went for 10 points shooting 40 percent from the field, while finishing one rebound shy of a double-double, picking up nine including two offensive boards.
Sophomore Sydnie Rodriguez scored a season high nine points, connecting for two triples, shooting 50 percent from behind the arc. The Boise guard also grabbed a new season high in rebounds, tallying six including two offensive boards. Freshman Dylan Mogel led the team with five assists, while scoring her new season high five points, including her first make from beyond the arc. Mogel also picked up her first block of her collegiate career on the defensive end.
Sophomore Fia Proctor matched her career high seven points while handing out a new collegiate best two assists in 18 minutes of action. The Washington native netted her lone attempt from three point land while posting a perfect 2-for-2 from the stripe.
The Redhawks shot a combined 42 percent from the field while netting ten triples, shooting 47.6 percent from behind the arc. They went to the line 26 times and shot 76.9 percent as a team from the stripe. SU limited the Blue Hose to a combined 36 percent shooting, only giving up one make from three point land. The Redhawks won the rebounding battle 34-32 while picking up six blocks to Presbyterian’s three.
After trailing through the first ten minutes by four, the Redhawks locked in through the remaining thirty minutes of action, out scoring the Blue Hose by 15. Stricklin kept the Redhawks afloat through the first quarter, scoring six through the first ten minutes. Trailing by as many as eight in the first, Mogel connected for her first collegiate triple to cut the deficit to five with just under two minutes until the second quarter. Mogel led the Redhawks’ 5-2 run to close out the first, pulling SU back 13-17.
Rodriguez came into the second with the hot hand, leveling the quarter with back-to-back makes from downtown. Stricklin gave SU the lead back once again, driving to the rim to put the Redhawks up by one midway through the second. Brubaker gave the Redhawks the six point advantage from the free throw line before the Blue Hose closed the final minutes before half on a 7-0 run to lead the Redhawks by one into the break.
Bigovic scored five through the first four minutes of the second half, before Brubaker took over for the final four minutes of the third, scoring eight points, including a three point play off the hoop and harm with about 1:30 left in the third. Presbyterian scored the final three of the quarter, but the Redhawks held the 48-44 lead after thirty minutes.
Brubaker came out quick for five points before a combination of five free throws from Rodriguez, Mogel and Brubaker midway through the final ten minutes built SU’s lead to double digits. Bigovic grabbed her third triple of the day with 1:23 left before senior Aaliyah Ibarra connected from the corner to give the Redhawks their largest lead of the day. The Blue Hose netted the final four points, but the Redhawks would lock down the win to move on to the tournament’s title game behind the 72-61 victory.
The Redhawks face host Florida International in the tournament final with tip off currently scheduled for 10:30 AM PT on Sunday, November 30. The game airs on ESPN+.
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