SEATTLE - Seattle University women’s basketball’s 2025-26 opening night did not fall the Redhawks’ (0-1, 0-0 WCC) way as they suffered a 90-43 defeat to cross-town rival Washington (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at Alaska Airlines Arena on Monday night.
Redshirt senior Tamia Stricklin led the way for SU in her 30th start with the program, netting 12 points and grabbing four rebounds while connecting on six for eleven shots from the field. Graduate Ella Brubaker recorded eight in her Seattle U debut, hitting two triples on four attempts to lead the Redhawks from behind the arc.
Junior Lucija Milkovic tallied a career best performance in 13 minutes of action. She led the Redhawks with her career high seven rebounds, including three offensive boards, while posting a career best four points coming off the bench. The Croatia native also went for a career high two blocks on the defensive end.
Seattle U’s freshmen guards Dylan Mogel and Jana Vesic combined for five assists, with Mogel leading the team with three on the evening. Vesic led the trio of freshmen in their collegiate debuts, scoring six points while going a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. All three freshmen netted points, with Chloe Emanga tacking on a triple for the Redhawks in the third quarter.
Sophomore returner Sydnie Rodriguez grabbed the second most rebounds by the Redhawks on the night, picking up five in her 31st start in the Red and White.
The Redhawks went 17-60 while connecting on four makes from behind the arc. They finished the evening five-for-seven from the free throw line. As a team, they brought in 31 rebounds, four blocks and four steals, while handing out seven assists. SU had scoring production from over eighty percent of its roster, scoring 15 from its bench.
Graduate Andjela Bigovic got the Redhawks on board first at the start of the contest, halving Washington’s initial 4-0 advantage. After a three point play from the Huskies, the Redhawks started chipping at the 11 point deficit off a put back from Bigovic and a triple from Rodriguez to pull within six with two minutes in the first quarter. Washington would lead by ten after the first behind a 4-2 swing.
Washington grabbed control of the contest midway through the second quarter after an early effort quelled the Redhawk offense from building bouts of scoring. Brubaker would hit a triple with under two minutes to go as Seattle U kept Washington off the board through the remainder headed into the halftime break. The Huskies held the 49-23 advantage into the half.
Similar to the start of the contest, the Redhawks traded scores with Huskies through the opening minute, before a scoring drought hit SU until just under seven minutes remained in the third quarter. The Huskies pushed their lead up to 39 until Stricklin scored right before the final ten minutes.
Trailing 73-36 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Redhawks turned to Stricklin once again and Vesic from the free throw line, but Seattle U ran out of time to shave the late deficit, falling to the Huskies 90-43.
Seattle U prepares for its home debut on Wednesday, November 5 as the Redhawks host Northwest at the Redhawk Center at 6PM.
Season and single game tickets are on sale now. Visit goseattleu.com/tix to purchase and for more information.
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