Seattle University’s women’s basketball team won Saturday evening 86-60, against Grand Canyon University (10-7, 2-2), making them undefeated in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) play. With a 26-point lead, it has been their best output this season.
Lead scorer #24 Alexis Montgomery led the Redhawks with a double-double, 25 points and 14 rebounds.
“I thought we executed our game plan incredibly well. I thought we were really ready to play this game,” Seattle U women’s basketball coach Suzy Barcomb said. “You had an entire week to prep for the team. You’re on your home floor. It’s a game you have to stay undefeated, so I thought all the energy was really good for us tonight.”
The Redhawks (7-12, 4-0 WAC) started with the ball and within moments, junior forward Jacinta Beckley scored, setting the mood for the rest of the game. They were particularly efficient from the three-point line, shooting 9-20 on such shots.
In the first half, the Redhawks took the lead, but the Lopes were able to quickly catch up. After a 20-9 run to start the game, they went cold as the visitors cut it to 21-20. The Redhawks took advantage of a media timeout to reset the game plan. They would steer away from attempting to shoot early in the shot clock and went back to basics. They used this to go on a run and extend the lead to 32-22. By the time there was five minutes left in the game, the Redhawks had a 21 point lead, putting the game away for good.
“There was a little time that we lost our focus but as soon as we caught it back, we caught our lead back. We kept pushing our lead, so that was good,” said senior Alexis Montgomery, who plays wing for the Redhawks.
#3 Jacinta Beckley drives for the basket and the foul, adding to her final total 18 points.
Freshman guard Kamira Sanders helped lead the team, scoring a career high 24 points, while Montgomery scored 25 points, with 14 total rebounds. The team knew how to execute each play, utilizing each player’s strengths.
“It was a good team win,” Montgomery said. “Our goal in the game was to keep our lead and keep it going to prove to the other team what we’re about. Shout out to my team for setting me up and getting me in the position to score.”
Last season, GCU beat Seattle U twice. The first game was played in Arizona and the second at the Connolly Center.
This game gives the Redhawks a 4-0 record in conference play. So far they have defeated CSU Bakersfield, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Chicago State University and now Grand Canyon University. Next, they go up against New Mexico State and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, at short turnaround games.
“I don’t think people anticipated being 4-0 so we’re going to take it and run with it,” Barcomb said. “We’re going to run like we stole something, that’s how we’re going to play.”
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