Wrapping up the 2024-25 regular season, the Southern Utah University women’s basketball team traveled to face Seattle University on Thursday, Mar. 6. Southern Utah battled hard, earning a 66-51 win.
With the win, Southern Utah finishes the regular season 9-20 on the year and 7-9 in the Western Athletic Conference. Seattle drops to 3-25 on the season and 0-15 in the WAC.
First quarter
Ava Uhrich and Lexi Bull started things off, scoring the first six points for the T-Birds. Seattle battled back, tying it up at six, with five minutes to play.
A late three from Samantha Johnston gave SUU a 13-12 lead after one.
Second quarter
Seattle opened the quarter on an 8-3 run, taking a 20-16 lead. Southern Utah responded with a 17-5 run over the remaining seven minutes of play, taking a 33-25 lead at the half.
Johnston led SUU with 11 points at the break.
Third quarter
Both teams played evenly to start the third, with neither team gaining a huge advantage. SUU turned things up halfway through the third, going on a 13-5 run over the remaining five minutes.
Daylani Ballena dominated the quarter, scoring 12 points on 4/5 shooting from the field and 4/5 from the free-throw line.
Fourth quarter
Seattle opened the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to four points. SUU, looking to stop the Redhawks’ momentum, turned to Jaeden Brown. The senior forward hit a big layup, plus the foul to slow down Seattle.
This layup sparked a 13-2 run over the last five minutes of play to secure the 66-51 win for the T-Birds.
Key statistics
— Ballena all scorers with 19 points
— Olivia Moore led Seattle with 15 points and went 3/6 from three
— Sydney Gandy led SUU with five assists
What’s next?
Southern Utah will head to Las Vegas to compete in the WAC Tournament starting on Wednesday, Mar. 12. Their opponent has yet to be determined.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Chevy Blackburn
