CEDAR CITY, Utah ? Nov. 9 ? Southern Utah women's basketball used a 13-2 run over the final four minutes of the game to secure a come-from-behind 66-55 victory over the Eagles of Concordia on Friday night. Anne Westwood and Challis Pascucci led the Thunderbirds in the win with 17 points and 16 rebounds and 12 points and 14 rebounds, respectively.
“We have kids on this program who know how to win and won't fold it up and call it a night when we're down,” head coach Steve Hodson said after the game. “We were not as focused as we needed to be tonight and our concentration level was just not there. But, we have a team that is willing to learn and they want to be great.”
Southern Utah struggled to find its rhythm early in the game as Concordia also got off to a slow start. However, the Eagles were able to build a ten-point lead midway through the first half with an 18-8 advantage with nine minutes remaining.
Concordia's lead capped at 13 (26-13) with six minutes remaining in the half when the Thunderbirds began a late surge, stringing together a 14-4 run to end the period.
The teams went into the locker rooms with the Eagles leading the Thunderbirds 30-27.
Following the break, Southern Utah took the lead for the first time since the tip of the ball on a 3-point bucket by Aubrey Mackintosh to begin the half.
However, the Eagles battled back as Thunderbird shooters went cold to build another lead of nine points on a 3-point basket by Kayanna Nichols with 13:18 showing on the clock.
Nichols entered the game for Concordia scoring more than 16 points a game, but was held to 11 during the contest on 4-of-13 shooting.
Southern Utah once again turned up the defense to put together a 13-4 run over the next seven minutes to tie the game at 49-49 with six minutes remaining in the game.
With the teams continuing to battle, freshman Stephanie Sampson connected on two free throws to tie the game and then give the Thunderbirds a lead the team would not relinquish down the stretch.
Pascucci, Sampson and fellow freshman Kaila Goff joined Westwood to hit eight free throws over the final four minutes with Goff, Cash Connors and Pascucci each connecting from the court for the 66-55 victory.
Westwood led the team in blocks with two as Erin Heuett led the team with three steals. Connors was the only other scorer for the Thunderbirds in double-figures with 12 points. Nichols and Nichole Fu led Concordia in scoring with 11 and 12, respectively.
Southern Utah will now face its first road test of the season when the Thunderbirds travel to Manhattan, Kan. for a meeting with the Wildcats of Kansas State on Monday, Nov. 12. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. central time.
