Southern Utah Women?s Basketball to Tip-off 2009-10 Season this Week

Women's Basketball 12/8/2009 5:00:00 AM Southern Utah Athletics

Southern Utah Captures Conference Victory with 67-53 Win at Centenary

SHREVEPORT, La. - Dec. 7 - Southern Utah shot a season-high 55.8 percent from the floor en route to a 67-53 victory over the Centenary Ladies on Monday night. The result gives the T-Birds their first conference win of the season (1-1) as the team improves to 2-7 on the year. Centenary remains winless with an 0-9 overall record and 0-2 mark in Summit League play.

"I was proud of the effort we came out with in the second half," head coach JR Payne said after the game. "We could have folded as we faced adversity, but we did a good job handling the pressure.

"We had a lot of different people that stepped up today," she continued. "To get a split on our first conference road trip is great. You hope to go in and win both, but to get a split made it a successful weekend for us."

Centenary opened the first half with back-to-back baskets to take an early 5-0 lead, but the Thunderbirds battled back to tie the game at 10-10 on a Caitlyn Sears layup. Southern Utah took its first lead of the game at 15-10 as Cassie Burgess hit a 3-point basket, followed by another layup by Sears.

The lead swung back to the Ladies' side minutes later as Bethany Joseph connected on one of her four 3-point baskets during the first half. Centenary fought off Thunderbird attempts over the final four minutes of the half to take a narrow 31-29 lead into halftime.

Southern Utah moved the ball very well during the first half, recording ten assists on 12 field goals. However, the team faced its demon of turnovers, surrendering the ball 13 times over the first 20 minutes of the game.

The T-Birds tied the game at 31-31 right out of the gates in the second half as Challis Pascucci hit back-to-back free throws. Southern Utah had to fight back over the next four minutes, tying the game twice before putting together a 7-0 run midway through the half to take a 48-42 lead.

The margin became only as close as three points (52-49), but Southern Utah countered with a 9-0 run, building the lead to 61-49 with four minutes to play. Pascucci's layup with just over a minute in the game gave the Thunderbirds their largest lead of 16, 67-51, but a final layup by CC's Megan Daniel squared the score at 67-53 at the final whistle.

Pasucci led the Thunderbirds with a season-high 17 points, followed by Chanel Thorley with 15 and Burgess with 11. Bethany Joseph led Centenary with 17 points and was joined in double figures by Anne Farrell with 13.

Southern Utah will be back in action on Saturday night when the Thunderbirds host the Utah Valley Wolverines in the Centrum Arena.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#44 Chanel Thorley: F/C; 6' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

#44 Chanel Thorley
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: F/C

Players Mentioned

#24 Challis Pascucci

#32 Caitlyn Sears

#44 Chanel Thorley

Players Mentioned

#24 Challis Pascucci

#32 Caitlyn Sears

#44 Chanel Thorley