Thunderbirds Fall on the Road to Boise State, 74-60

Women's Basketball 12/6/2008 7:00:00 AM Southern Utah Athletics

Kaila Goff Last-Second Shot Gives Southern Utah 73-72 Victory

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Dec. 6 - Kaila Goff hit a runner in the lane with four seconds in the game as Southern Utah captured a 73-72 conference-opening win over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Saturday night. SUU moved to 2-5 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while OU dropped to 4-3 with an 0-1 conference record.

"This was a great team win tonight," interim head coach Kit Janes said after the game. "We have been working on our level of intensity during practice and all 14 girls have shown it."

Southern Utah recorded the first bucket of the game, but never had a lead of more than six during the first 20 minutes. The teams combined for nine ties in the opening frame with the latest coming at the 2:11 mark with the teams deadlocked at 31-31. However, back-to-back shots by Dani Hosking and Anne Westwood Higbee gave the Thunderbirds a 35-31 advantage at the intermission.

Southern Utah build a double-digit lead for the first time in the game at the 17:10 mark in the second half as the T-Birds came out of the locker rooms on a 9-2 run. Oakland chipped the lead back to single digits, but a 3-point basket by freshman Cassie Platt put the Thunderbirds back up by 11 (49-38) with 14:40 on the clock.

The Grizzlies began to methodically cut into the deficit, putting together a 24-13 run over the next eight minutes to tie the game at 62-62 with just under seven minutes to play.

The lead changed hands six times over the final 5:30 in the game, but Goff's shot with four seconds on the clock gave the Thunderbirds a 73-72 lead. Oakland's Jessica Pike brought the ball back down the court four the Grizzlies, but lost the handle on the ball on defensive pressure by Caitlyn Sears as the final whistle sounded.

Goff was one of four Thunderbirds to finish the game in double figures, finishing with 11 points. Platt led all scorers with a career-high 19 points, following by Challis Pascucci with 13 and Higbee with ten.

Oakland also had four players in double figures with Pike leading the team with 17 points, followed by April Kidd (13), Melissa Jeltema (12) and Brittany Carnago with ten.

Southern Utah held the advantage over Oakland in shooting percentage (46.3 to 38.8), rebounding (43 to 38) and blocks (five to one).

The Thunderbirds will continue the early conference schedule with a home contest with the IPFW Mastodons on Monday night. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Kaila Goff: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#14 Dani Hosking: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#24 Challis Pascucci: F; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#23 Cassie Platt: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

#32 Caitlyn Sears: G/F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#21 Anne Westwood Higbee: F/C; 6' 1"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#13 Kaila Goff
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#14 Dani Hosking
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#24 Challis Pascucci
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: F

#23 Cassie Platt
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G

#32 Caitlyn Sears
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G/F

#21 Anne Westwood Higbee
: 6' 1"; Senior
: F/C