ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Seattle University women’s basketball (1-0) battled back from a late deficit in the fourth quarter to overtake New Mexico (0-1) for its first win of the season, 63-62, inside The Pit on Monday morning.
The feat marks the first win under new head coach John Bonner, the first road victory since December 2024 and the first season opening win since 2021 for the program.
Junior Cristina Jones paced the team with a double-double, combining for 12 points and 10 rebounds, including four offensive boards. Jones also led the Redhawks on the defensive end, picking up two blocks and three steals.
Two more Redhawks logged double digit scoring efforts, with junior Claire Fraser guiding the team from the perimeter, connecting twice from behind the arc. Fraser posted 11 points while pacing the team with three assists. Graduate Shelley Duchemin scored 10 off the bench shooting 44.4 percent from the field. The pair combined for seven rebounds.
Freshman Gabriela Escorial finished just shy of her first collegiate double-double, scoring eight points while collecting eight rebounds, including a team leading six offensive boards. The freshman went 4-of-7 from the field and dished out three assists. Junior Milana Nenadic matched Escorial with eight rebounds, scoring seven off the bench.
Sophomore Alanna Neale added seven points, while picking up crucial steals and a block down the stretch. Neale finished 3-of-5 from the floor, including one make from behind the arc, while picking up three rebounds.
The Redhawks secured 23 points from their bench, while scoring 34 points in the paint. Seattle U forced 14 turnovers, while scoring 16 points off Lobo mistakes. The Redhawks outpaced the Lobos on the offensive glass, securing 18 offensive boards to their 11. They outrebounded New Mexico 43-33 and paced the Lobos in steals (eight to seven) and blocks (five to four).
New Mexico struck first after the Redhawks secured the opening tip before leading by four after the first three minutes. Fraser ignited the Redhawk offense with her first triple of the contest at the top of the arc. The Redhawks and Lobos exchanged buckets before both teams went quiet over a minute stretch. New Mexico built its lead to six under the midway point of the first quarter before Duchemin broke the drought driving to the basket. Seattle U pulled back within one off a 5-0 run following a make from Neale and a triple from junior Erin Sellers. The Lobos closed the final stretch of the first on a 4-0 run to lead 20-15.
The Lobos continued to push entering the start of the second quarter, building their lead to eight. A triple from Nenadic pulled Seattle U back within five with 6:08 left before the half. New Mexico built back its lead to nine but the Redhawks would pull within seven from the free throw line before the break to trail 30-37.
Following halftime, the Redhawk offense took control of the third quarter, out scoring the Lobos 20 to 18. Jones and Fraser quickly went to work, scoring the first five points for the Redhawks as New Mexico knocked down a pair of free throws. A jumper from sophomore Sophie Buzzard shaved down the New Mexico lead to two before an Escorial lay up leveled the contest 39-39. After forcing a ten second violation, the Redhawks struck for their first lead of the game off a make from Duchemin. Seattle U maintained two point leads from makes from Escorial and Jones until Jones built the Redhawk lead to four off a fast break with 4:17 left in the third. The Lobos swung back with a 12-1 run to pace the Redhawks by seven with just under a minute and a half left in the quarter. Duchemin scored the final bucket of the third to pull the Redhawks within five, 50-55.
New Mexico saw its largest lead of the contest in the fourth, pushing ahead by 11 with 7:36 left to play before the Redhawks battled back methodically over the middle of the fourth quarter. Neale and Duchemin combined for eight points, both connecting from three point land, to nearly pull within three with under four minutes remaining. Both teams went quiet for over a minute before Fraser drove in for two to make it a one point game. Jones forced a steal on the opposite end before driving to the basket for the go-ahead lay up at the 1:31 mark. That lead would not be relented by the Redhawks as Fraser forced a steal and Neale grabbed a block with seconds remaining. The Lobos got the ball back and advanced the court with three seconds left with a timeout, but the Redhawks would come out on top 63-62, as Fraser secured the final rebound of the contest as time expired.
Seattle U returns to action on Friday for its home opener against UC Riverside on Friday, November 6 at 6:00 PM.
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