The Southern Utah women’s basketball team defeated California Polytechnic State University in overtime on Friday, Nov. 21 at the Mott Athletics Center in San Luis Obispo, California. Coming off a win against Benedictine University Mesa, the Thunderbirds have now won two straight, taking this game 85-80.
SUU is the top team in the Western Athletic Conference with a record of 5-1, and now have a 2-1 road record to go along with a perfect home record.
Cal Poly holds a 1-4 record and has lost four games in a row. A 34-point performance from sophomore Vanessa McManus wasn’t enough to give them their first NCAA win.
First quarter
The game started with Cal Poly winning the tip-off and going on a 5-0 run with a jumper and three-pointer by McManus. The T-Birds answered back with three straight layups to take the lead.
After some missed shots from both teams, Devyn Kiernan sank a three for Southern Utah, followed by Denver Anderson notching two free throws and a three of her own to cap off a 14-2 run.
SUU scored four more points in the quarter, with each coming at the free-throw line. Cal Poly had a chance to cut the lead to one with a missed three from McManus at the buzzer, and SUU took an 18-14 lead after 10 minutes.
Second quarter
The teams started the quarter evenly matched, with neither team scoring twice in a row until five and a half minutes in when the T-Birds went on a 6-2 run.
Both teams got into some foul trouble in the closing minutes, with Anderson hitting a free throw to put the T-Birds up 32-27 at the half. The Mustangs committed two turnovers in the closing minute, but SUU didn’t get another shot off.
Despite SUU missing half of their free throws and two-thirds of their field goals, they outscored Cal Poly and took advantage of six Mustang turnovers to score five extra points.
Third quarter
The teams exchanged blows for the first few minutes, but SUU went on a strong 8-2 run to reach a 10-point lead. Even after a foul and technical foul from Brooklyn Fely that gave Cal Poly four points at the free-throw line, SUU scored eight straight points to go up 14 points.
SUU scored their five final points of the quarter at the line, taking advantage of Cal Poly fouls once again. The Mustangs committed 36 over the course of the game compared to SUU’s 25.
Southern Utah ended the quarter with a 57-44 lead. They attempted four threes in the period and missed each one, but went 13-16 from the free-throw line and outscored Cal Poly by 14 points.
Fourth quarter
Cal Poly came out aggressive despite the disadvantage, starting the quarter on a 7-2 run. SUU responded, trading baskets to keep the lead around ten, but allowed five straight points to the Mustangs.
The team went on a tear, fending off the offense of SUU to put themselves right back in the game. McManus had a huge run, scoring Cal Poly’s final 14 points and capping off the quarter with a buzzer beater three to send the game to overtime.
This was the first game for either SUU basketball team to go to overtime this year. This was the first such game for the women’s team since their double-overtime win against Utah Valley University on Feb. 17, 2024.
Overtime
Cal Poly scored the first basket of the period, but it didn’t take long for SUU to make back-to-back layups to retake the lead. With SUU’s lead teetering around two, Kiernan hit a dagger three in an attempt to put the game away for good with 55 seconds left.
After a big-time block by Kiernan, six of the last eight points of the game were scored at the free-throw line as Cal Poly couldn’t muster enough offense to come back. SUU took home the overtime victory, 85-80.
SUU held Cal Poly to just two field goals in eight attempts in overtime. They were able to outlast the Mustangs and took home a tough victory on the road.
Key stats
— Head coach Tracy Mason reached 100 wins in her coaching career.
— SUU shot 43.9% inside the three-point line, but shot just 22.7% from three.
— Cal Poly had 21 turnovers compared to the T-Birds’ 13.
— Southern Utah scored 26 points off turnovers compared to Cal Poly’s nine.
— SUU had great defense, with nine steals and six blocks to Cal Poly’s four steals and zero blocks.
Top T-Birds
— Anderson put up 13 points, four rebounds and a steal off the bench.
— Sierra Chambers notched 17 points and two rebounds, going 10-for-10 on free throws.
— Kiernan had a career game, leading SUU with 22 points, three assists and three blocks. The freshman also had two steals.
— Ava Uhrich led the team in rebounds with 10 and scored 11 points for her second double-double of the season.
Next up
The Thunderbirds will travel back home to take on Nelson University at the America First Event Center on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. The game can also be streamed live on ESPN+.
Authors: Andrew Streeter and Payson Davis
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Payson Davis
