Playing in their final two games of non-conference play, the Southern Utah University women’s basketball team competed in the Loyola Marymount University Christmas Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21.
SUU defeated the University of Nebraska at Omaha 80-47 on Dec. 20 but fell to Loyola Marymount on Dec. 21, 76-68.
Southern Utah sits at 8-4 on the season as they gear up for the start of conference play in the Western Athletic Conference.
Game one
Elsa Vedral got the scoring started for Omaha with a layup but then it was all Southern Utah. Ava Uhrich scored 10 of the next 13 points for SUU and helped the T-Birds go on a 15-0 run.
The Mavericks responded with a three-pointer and free-throw of their own, cutting the lead to single digits. Although Omaha fought back, SUU played stingy defense all quarter long, holding Omaha to only eight points and boasting an 11-point lead after quarter one.
Second quarter
Uhrich came out in the second quarter hitting two straight baskets, followed by Olivia Malafu making back-to-back layups. Omaha sprinkled in points in between but could not cut into SUU’s lead.
With six minutes remaining in the half, SUU would go on a 19-4 run led by Uhrich and Denver Anderson. The T-Birds went into halftime up 44-18. SUU shot 56.2% from the field and held Omaha to shoot 33% from the field.
Third quarter
Kortney Doman opened up the scoring for Southern Utah with a three as the T-Birds started the second half with a 10-0 run through the first three and a half minutes of play.
Omaha struggled with shooting in the third quarter. The Mavericks went 2/16 from the field and 1/7 from three, failing to record a made basket until under the three-minute mark.
SUU’s Anderson would hit a three-pointer in the last minute of the quarter to increase their lead to a game-high 44.
Fourth quarter
With the game out of reach, Omaha found some rhythm early in the quarter. The Mavericks opened with an 11-2 run through the first three minutes.
The rest of the quarter was back-and-forth with neither team gaining an advantage. Southern Utah would go on to win 80-47.
Game two
It was all Lions in the first quarter. LMU held Southern Utah to 38.4% shooting from the field while the Lions shot 10/14 from the field and 1/2 from three.
Loyola Marymount opened with a 16-5 run led by Jess Lawson and Carly Heidger. The duo combined for nine points during this run and helped the Lions take a 23-11 lead after quarter one.
Second quarter
LMU’s Zawadi Ogot got the scoring started in quarter two with a layup but SUU followed with a 12-4 run to cut the lead to six. Even though the Lions only made two field goals in the second quarter, LMU dominated at the free-throw line, going 10/11 from the charity swipe.
After cutting the lead to six, Loyola Marymount ended the half on an 8-3 run to take a 37-26 lead at halftime. Uhrich led SUU with seven points, followed by Sierra Chambers with six.
Third quarter
Southern Utah came out firing in the third with a 9-2 run, cutting the Lions’ lead to only four. Despite the T-Birds early run, they couldn’t do enough to regain the lead.
Loyola Marymount saw their lead go as low as two but an 11-5 run with three minutes left in the third increased their lead to eight.
With a minute left in the quarter, Malafu made a free throw and Chambers hit a three-pointer to end the third but LMU led 54-50.
Fourth quarter
Uhrich scored the first 10 points for SUU in the fourth quarter but struggled to string stops on the other end. With under four minutes to play, Devyn Kiernan hit a three followed by a made jumper from Uhrich to make it a one point game.
SUU continued to struggle defensively, especially in playing defense without fouling. LMU went 9/10 from the free-throw line over the final three minutes of play, securing the 76-68 win. Despite their best efforts, the T-Birds dropped the final game in the LMU Christmas Tournament.
Tournament statistics
— Uhrich averaged 23.5 points per game and went 19/28 from the field in the two-game tournament.
— Anderson scored a season-high 14 points against Omaha.
— Southern Utah shot 48.2% from the field in the two games.
What’s next?
Southern Utah returns home after Christmas to host Utah Tech University on Monday, Dec. 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the America First Event Center. This game can also be streamed live on ESPN+.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Payson Davis
