SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.- A late fourth quarter run saw Seattle University women’s basketball (2-2) within a possession and with the ball in the waning seconds, but the Redhawks could not extend the game, falling to Cal Poly (3-1) 57-55 inside Mott Athletics Center on Wednesday night.
Four Redhawks logged double-digit scoring efforts on the night in the narrow loss. Sophomore Alanna Neale led the team with 17 points connecting for a new career high four triples, shooting 80 percent from behind the arc. Neale ended the night shooting 60 percent from the floor, one rebound and one block.
Junior Claire Fraser matched her career high with three triples, recording 11 points shooting 50 percent from three. Fraser went 2-for-2 from the line, extending her free throw streak to six straight makes at the line. The junior handed out two assists and grabbed four rebounds.
Junior Cristina Jones and fifth year senior Shelley Duchemin each matched Fraser with 11 points, with Jones shooting 45.5 percent from the field and Duchemin going perfect, 4-for-4, from the charity stripe. Jones picked up a season high five steals and paced the team with seven rebounds, including three offensive boards. Duchemin led the team in assists with three and ended the night with four rebounds, one block and two steals.
Freshman Gabriela Escorial finished with six rebounds, matching Jones with three offensive boards. Escorial ended the night with one block and one assist.
The Redhawks combined for eight triples, shooting 40 percent from three. They outrebounded Cal Poly, 35-31, including offensive rebounds, 14-8. On the defensive end, Seattle U logged four blocks to the Mustangs’ zero and grabbed 12 steals to their seven.
Cal Poly opened with a 17 point quarter shooting 50 percent from three and 53 percent from the field. The Redhawks battled back with Neale’s first triple of the night and six points from Jones to trail by five after the opening quarter.
Seattle U spun the game in the closing ten minutes before the halftime break, scoring 15 points to Cal Poly’s 13 to trail by three at half. Duchemin took over the second quarter, scoring seven points while picking up a steal. Duchemin shot 66.7 percent from the field. Neale added six points, connecting on both attempts from three.
The Redhawks would out score the Mustangs again following halftime, putting up 12 to Cal Poly’s 11, limiting the Mustangs to 30.8 percent shooting from the floor. Neale led all scorers with four points. A layup from Escorial at 2:14 tied the contest for the first time at 39-39, before the Mustangs took the narrow 41-39 advantage from the line entering the fourth quarter.
A triple from Fraser with less than a minute into the fourth quarter gave the Redhawks their first lead of the night before Jones built the lead to three off a made layup. Seattle U crafted a 8-0 as Fraser struck again from downtown to push the Redhawks ahead 47-41. The Mustangs would respond with a run of their own to tie the contest for the final time 47-all.
Fraser knocked down her third triple with 3:34 left to play to wrestle back the lead, but the Mustangs responded with their own make from three. With 24 seconds remaining, Neale recorded her fourth three of the game to pull the Redhawks within three, 57-54. A Cal Poly foul sent sophomore Sophie Buzzard to the line, where she maintained the one possession game, going one for two. The Redhawks would secure the offensive rebound off the missed free throw, maintaining possession through the closing 15 seconds, but could not level the contest with the final shot, falling 57-55.
Seattle U returns to action next week when it hosts Pacific Lutheran for its Kids Day game on November 18 at 11 AM.
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.