SEATTLE - A 29 point third quarter nearly erased a 20 point halftime deficit for Seattle University’s women’s basketball team as the Redhawks (5-18, 1-11 WCC) pulled within two possessions late in the fourth quarter against San Francisco, but the comeback would be spoiled by the Dons (14-9, 7-5 WCC) as they took down Seattle U 76-67 inside the Redhawk Center on Thursday night.
Graduate Ella Brubaker posted her fifth 20 point game of the season, scoring 21 points on 46.2 percent shooting from the floor. Brubaker shot eight for ten from the free throw line, just two free throws shy of tying her DI career high. The graduate guard now sits one point away from 2,000 career points spanning her six years of college basketball split between the NAIA and Division I levels. Brubaker ended the night with four rebounds and a career high tying four steals.
Freshman Chloe Emanga went for a collegiate career high 16 points, shooting 36.4 percent from the field, including two triples. She matched her season high in makes from the charity stripe, knocking down six free throws on six attempts. Emanga grabbed six rebounds, including three offensive boards, and three steals for a new season high in steals.
Freshman Jana Vesic, graduate Andjela Bigovic and redshirt senior Tamia Stricklin each scored nine points, all three knocking down a triple. Stricklin and Vesic led the Redhawks with two assists each. Stricklin grabbed five rebounds and tallied a block and two steals, while Vesic grabbed four rebounds.
The Redhawks combined for 38 percent shooting from the floor while recording six triples. The WCC’s leading free throw percentage team went 19-of-21 from the stripe. SU and San Francisco each recorded 14 turnovers, but the Redhawks out scored the Dons in points off turnovers 22 to 12.
Brubaker led the Redhawks through the opening ten minutes, scoring seven points shooting two for three from the floor and knocking down three free throws. She grabbed four rebounds and picked up a steal on the defensive end as the Redhawks trailed by one, 18-17, after the first quarter.
After starting the game shooting a combined 45.5 percent from the field, the Redhawk offense cooled in the second quarter, as Seattle U trailed 45-25 at the break.
The Redhawks surged coming out of halftime, with Emanga leading the charge with 12 points in the third quarter. She went perfect from the field (2-of-2) and from the line (6-of-6). Brubaker added an additional seven points as the Redhawks shaved down USF’s 20 point lead to nine after a Stricklin triple at the one second mark in the third. The Redhawks shot 64.3 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from three in the third quarter, while forcing four turnovers.
Bigovic led the way for the Redhawks in the closing ten minutes, scoring six points. Brubaker scored all five of her fourth quarter points from the free throw line, finishing 5-of-7 in the fourth. Four points from Brubaker and Bigovic cut San Francisco’s lead back down to nine with 3:37 left to go, but both offenses went stagnant through the closing minutes. San Francisco scored the final three points to spoil Seattle U’s return home 76-67.
Seattle U hits the road to take on San Diego on Saturday afternoon for its second meeting of the season against the Toreros. The Redhawks return home on February 19 to host LMU.
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