Beginning their first losing streak of the season, the Southern Utah University women’s basketball team headed to Idaho to face Boise State University on Saturday, Dec. 13. Despite a massive double-double from Ava Uhrich, the Broncos outlasted SUU and grabbed the 81-66 win.
With the loss, SUU falls to 7-3 with all three losses coming on the road. Boise State now sits at an impressive 9-2 with both losses also coming in away games.
First quarter
The teams traded baskets at first, but a quick 10-2 run from Boise State put them up nine points with four and a half minutes to spare.
The T-Birds didn’t back down though, stringing together five straight points off two free throws, a steal and a three-pointer from Sierra Chambers. SUU outscored the Broncos 10-5 over the final four minutes.
Denver Anderson sank a three and Ashley Banks scored back-to-back layups off the bench to cut the score to 20-17 at the end of the first quarter. SUU had an aggressive paint presence, going 7-15 from inside the three-point line.
Second quarter
The teams exchanged blows again, with neither squad making back-to-back baskets until six and a half minutes in. Boise State hit a triple and a fastbreak layup to build a 10-point lead and force SUU to take a timeout.
Southern Utah came out of the timeout invigorated, scoring the next six points with four coming from Chambers. The T-Birds ended the quarter on an 11-6 run while cutting the deficit to as little as two points, but ultimately trailed 39-34 at the half.
All of the Broncos’ points this quarter were from starters. Boise State had just one bench player record more than seven minutes, with every starter recording 30 or more.
Third quarter
Boise State came out on fire to start the second half, scoring 13 of the first 15 points including eight in a row to begin the quarter. Seven of those points were scored by Tatum Thompson, one of two Broncos to score more than 20 points.
After shooting 0-9 over that same stretch, SUU scored seven straight points to bring the deficit back to the single digits, but Boise State scored four points at the free throw line and finished the quarter on top, 56-45.
Both teams attempted and missed four three-point shots this quarter, and this was the lowest-scoring period for both as well.
Fourth quarter
Both teams ramped up their scoring this quarter with each recording more than 20 points. SUU fought to stay in the game, shooting 6-7 inside the three-point line and 9-12 on free throws.
After SUU cut the deficit to eight with two and a half minutes left, Boise State went on a 9-2 run to close out the game and take the 81-66 victory. Despite their efficiency from elsewhere on the court, the Thunderbirds missed seven three-pointer attempts and missed all 11 attempts in the half.
Key stats
— SUU snagged 14 offensive rebounds to Boise State’s two and also notched one more defensive rebound.
— SUU shot 2-17 from the three-point line while the Broncos went 8-17.
— Five different players scored in the double digits.
— Only three different bench players recorded points, combining for 12 from the T-Birds and four from the Broncos.
Top T-Birds
— Banks notched seven points, four rebounds, three assists and a season-high four blocks off the bench.
— Chambers led the team in scoring with 19 points and also recorded five rebounds, two assists and a steal. She shot 58.3% from the field and 70% on shots inside the arc while playing all 40 minutes.
— Kortney Doman recorded eight points, seven rebounds and two assists.
— Uhrich was dominant, scoring 17 points and grabbing 16 rebounds along with an assist and a block. She had five offensive rebounds, with her and Doman recording eight to the Broncos’ two.
Up next
SUU’s final two games before conference play will come in the Loyola Marymount University Christmas Tournament at the Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles.
The T-Birds will face the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m., then take on LMU the next day at 3:30 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Author: Payson Davis
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Jack Paul
