LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Utah Valley University struggled from the field in a 61-48 loss to Seattle University at the WAC Tournament quarterfinals in the Orleans Arena on Wednesday night. The Wolverines (12-16) now await a possible WNIT bid, should regular season champion Kansas City win this week's tournament.
The second-seeded Wolverines hit just 28.6% (16-for-56) from the field in the game. The No. 7-seed Redhawks (13-16) were 23-for-69 (33.3%) from the field, getting off 13 more field goals than the Wolverines due in part to a 50-41 edge in rebounds, including 17 on the offensive glass.
"Credit to Seattle. They played a good game today and deserved to win. The outrebounded us and shot the ball better but I am proud of the girls for fighting when it wasn't our night shooting the ball and we didn't execute like we needed to," said UVU head coach
Dan Nielson.
Eve Braslis and
Jordan Holland both scored 13 points to lead Utah Valley while Braslis also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. SU's Kamira Sanders led all scorers with 21 points and was 9-for-12 from the free-throw line. Joana Alves finished 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Redhawks.
The teams traded baskets throughout most of the opening quarter. Braslis scored the first eight points for the Wolverines, tying the game at 8-8 with 3:47 left. UVU trailed 10-8 before six straight points, four coming on Holland free-throws, gave the Wolverines a 14-10 lead.
Hailey Vice-Neat hit a 3-pointer near the end of the quarter, starting a 10-0 Seattle U run. Alves hit a turnaround and then a three, giving the Redhawks a 20-14 lead early on in the second.
The Wolverines tied with a 6-0 run with two buckets from
Josie Williams, but the Redhawks responded with eight straight including a bucket and free-throw from Alves on a play that also sent Williams to the bench with three fouls. Seattle U led 30-24 at the half behind 12 points from Alves.
UVU trailed 31-24 before seven straight points, capped by a Carvalho 3-pointer, tied the game. Vice-Neat came right back with a three on the next possession, starting a 12-3 run that gave the Redhawks a 43-34 lead late in the third. Holland hit a three with 17 seconds to go to make it a 43-37 game after three.
The Wolverines opened the fourth with six straight misses, helping Seattle score eight straight to begin the quarter to take a 51-37 lead. Cortez seven points for Utah Valley during a 9-2 run the got the team within seven, 53-46, with 2:20 left.
