In the first basketball game of the season, the Southern Utah University women’s basketball team will face Park University Gilbert in the America First Event Center in Cedar City on Monday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
The game will also be streamed live on ESPN+.
Last year, the Thunderbirds finished the season with an overall record of 9-21 and a conference record of 7-10, finishing seventh in the Western Athletic Conference.
The Buccaneers are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, making this a non-NCAA game. They finished with an overall record of 14-11 and a conference record of 8-6.
Southern Utah
Last season, the Thunderbirds scored 60 points per game and allowed 68 points per game. They shot 39.4% from the field and 27.8% from three, putting them in the bottom half of Division One in shooting and in the bottom fifth beyond the arc.
On defense, the T-Birds averaged about six steals per game, three and a half less per game than opponents. They also averaged 3.6 blocks, which was better than their opponents. Turnovers were an issue, as they committed nearly 18 per game while forcing far fewer.
One of the team’s biggest offseason additions is Brooklyn Fely, a junior forward from Orem, Utah. She transferred from Umpqua Community College, where she holds the all-time scoring and rebounding records. SUU is hoping that she can instantly show her value as a scorer, facilitator and defender.
SUU has a young roster, with 10 underclassmen and just one senior. Coach Tracy Mason has built a program focused on accomplished youth, drive and veteran leadership, and they look to take the WAC and go back to the NCAA tournament.
Park University Gilbert
Park had a positive offense last year, averaging 79 points per game while their opponents averaged 74.6. They shot 39% from the field, the same as the Thunderbirds, but were much better from three with 36.4%.
The Bucs were also strong defensively, with 13 steals and 23 forced turnovers per game. They averaged two blocks per game which lagged behind their opponents’ average. This disparity could be an advantage for the Thunderbirds, who have a tall roster with seven players over 6 feet tall.
Park has already played two games this year, with two wins over fellow NAIA program Nelson University. Both were blowouts, with the Buccaneers winning 93-45 and 85-55. Senior guard Alynna Palacios already looks to be a steal threat with 10, while guard Hemani Kalia averaged 15.5 points.
Most of their leading scorers from last season are gone, so the matchup dynamics with SUU remain to be seen. The T-Birds are looking to take this first game and make a statement in their last year in the WAC.
Last season was the first time these teams have ever faced off. SUU got the blowout victory by a score of 92-42.
Author: Andrew Streeter
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Payson Davis
