MORAGA, Calif. - Seattle University women’s basketball led 14-4 well into the first quarter in Saturday’s moved contest against Saint Mary’s, but the Redhawks (5-20, 1-13 WCC) could not sustain the lead after a surge by the Gaels (15-12, 6-8 WCC), falling to Saint Mary's 86-59 inside UCU Pavilion on Monday afternoon.
Three scored in double figures with graduate Ella Brubaker leading the team in scoring with 16 points, her 21st double-digit scoring effort of the season. Brubaker combined for five made field goals including two threes while shooting 80 percent from the free throw line (4-of-5). She also corralled three rebounds and a steal.
Junior Lucija Milkovic scored 14 points in her 10th start of the year. She knocked down six field goals to lead the Redhawk offense while picking up six rebounds. Freshman Jana Vesic scored 12 points coming off the bench shooting 62.5 percent from the floor and 50 percent from behind the arc. Vesic paced the team in steals with two.
Redshirt senior Tamia Stricklin orchestrated the offense matching her career high in assists with five. Stricklin also led the team on the defensive end, grabbing seven rebounds.
Matching Milkovic with six rebounds, including three offensive boards, was freshman Chloe Emanga. Emanga scored eight points and dished out three assists.
The Redhawks combined for 21 made field goals including six threes, while maintaining around their season free throw percentage at 84.6 percent on the afternoon. They grabbed 32 rebounds, two blocks and six steals, forcing 12 turnovers.
Seattle U took the lead first with buckets from Milkovic and Brubaker through the opening three minutes of action while grabbing two offensive rebounds and a steal to keep Saint Mary’s scoreless in that time span. Sophomore Lucy Larson connected for the first triple of the day to build SU’s lead to seven at the six minute mark before Saint Mary’s got on board for the first time on the afternoon.
The Redhawks grabbed their second ten point lead with a layup from Milkovic at 3:27 left in the first quarter before the Gaels ended the quarter on a 9-3 swing. Vesic scored her first triple of the afternoon to keep the Redhawks ahead 17-13 after the first quarter.
SU’s offense cooled in the second quarter, scoring their first points at the 6:01 mark off a Milkovic layup to keep the Redhawks within four. A triple from Stricklin at 2:06 made it a nine point game before the Gaels closed the half on a 8-3 run to lead 41-27 at the break.
Seattle U scored 16 in the third quarter with Brubaker leading the way with seven points. Vesic scored six while driving to the basket and forcing a steal on the opposite end. Brubaker closed the final ten minutes with five points, including a three. Vesic connected for her second triple of the contest in the closing minutes. SU went 8-of-9 from the stripe through the fourth quarter while shooting 40 percent from three, but the Gaels would defend home court, defeating the Redhawks 86-59.
The Redhawks return to action on Thursday when they host LMU at the Redhawk Center. They close the week out hosting Portland on Saturday.
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