LAS VEGAS - No. 12 seed Seattle University women’s basketball (5-25, 1-17 WCC) battled No. 9 seed Washington State (8-24, 6-12 WCC) in the 2026 Credit Union I WCC Championships opening round, exchanging blows to a first quarter tie before falling 80-58 inside Orleans Arena on Thursday afternoon.
Redshirt senior Tamia Stricklin secured her second double-double in as many games, and fourth total on the season, guiding the Redhawks with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Stricklin netted three triples and knocked down six free throws on eight attempts while handing out two assists. On the defensive end, she picked up a steal and a block.
Freshman Jana Vesic scored 11 for her 14th double digit scoring effort of the year, connecting for five makes from the field including one triple. She picked up two steals and handed out an assist in 20 minutes of action.
Freshman Chloe Emanga scored 10 points to round out SU’s trio of double digit scorers. Emanga shot 40 percent from the field and grabbed two steals. Graduate Ella Brubaker scored nine points and hauled in five rebounds. She secured her career high in assists, handing out four to lead the team.
Sophomore Sydnie Rodriguez and graduate Andjela Bigovic combined for 11 rebounds, including five offensive boards, and nine points.
The Redhawks combined for 20 makes from the field, including six triples, while connecting for 12 made free throws. They grabbed 40 rebounds, while winning the battle on the offensive glass, hauling in 12 o-boards to Washington’s eight. SU forced 13 turnovers, scoring 13 points off Cougar mistakes, while scoring seven second chance points to WSU’s four.
Stricklin kicked off the day with the hot hand, scoring 11 points in the first quarter of action behind three makes on three attempts from three. She shot 80 percent from the field and grabbed three rebounds, while recording a block, steal and an assist. Brubaker and Bigovic helped facilitate the offense with a combined five assists. The Redhawks ended the first ten minutes on an 8-3 run to tie the contest 17-all after the first.
Brubaker and Emanga combined for 12 points in the second while the Cougars put up the offensive pressure, out scoring the Redhawks by twelve to take the 44-32 lead into the break. Brubaker and Stricklin scored the final six heading into halftime.
Vesic led the way in the third with seven points while shooting perfect from the field on three attempts including one triple. She scored five in the span of a minute to close out the third quarter. Bigovic scored six points to lead the Redhawks in the closing ten minutes while Stricklin brought in four more rebounds to secure her double-double as the Redhawks exited the WCC Championships in their defeat to Washington State 80-58.
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.