Women's Basketball 11/27/2011 10:05:00 PM SUU Strategic Communication

T-Birds Claim Win Over New Mexico State at Thanksgiving Classic

LAS CRUCES, N.M. Nov. 27 – Southern Utah captured its first win of the young season Sunday as freshman point guard Hailey Mandelko sank a jumper from the free throw line in the closing seconds of the Aggie Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic finale to lift the Thunderbirds to a 58-57 victory over tournament host New Mexico State.

The game proved to be a back-and-forth contest that ultimately saw 11 lead changes, the first of which belonged New Mexico State who opened the game with two quick baskets to jump out on top 4-0. Southern Utah would immediately respond by scoring 13 consecutive points, including back-to-back threes by freshman guards Hailey Mandelko and Marquelle Funk, for a nine-point edge midway through the opening period. The Thunderbirds lead quickly diminished however as the Aggies ran off six straight points in under a minute to pull the score within one at 13-12.

The two sides then traded baskets for several minutes until a lay-up by Jasmine Rutledge leveled the score at 23. Her basket would spark a 10-2 run for New Mexico State over the last four minutes of the half that allowed the Aggies to take a 31-25 score into the locker room.

Following the break Mandelko was able to find the mark from behind the arc for the second time in the game to open the second half scoring, cutting the Aggies lead in half. Simone Reudin stretched the lead back to five moments later as her jumper made the count 35-30 in favor of NMSU. The Thunderbirds then ran off five straight as Carli Moreland notched a lay-up while Mandelko scored two from the line and DJ Norman added another free throw to knot the game at 35-35 with just over 16 minutes on the clock. From that point on the intensity would steadily build in the Pan American Center as neither team held more than a three-point advantage for the remainder of the contest.

With less than five minutes left to play the Thunderbirds found themselves trailing 53-52 as junior forward Tayler Andersen stepped to the free throw line. The Southern Utah veteran would knock down both attempts to put her team up by one. Anderson then added two more on a jumper to make the score 56-53 for SUU. The Aggies were able to pull back within one on a basket by Tabytha Wampler and then reclaim the lead as Rutledge added a lay-up with just 21 seconds left on the clock. The T-Birds took the court following a timeout and put the ball in the hands of Mandelko who worked to get open for a shot from the free throw line that found the bottom of the net with one second left on the clock to give Southern Utah a 58-57 victory.

Mandelko finished the game with 14 total points, and was one of four T-Birds to score in the double figures. Anderson and Brenna Gates both posted new career high in points for SUU, scoring 12 and 13 respectively, while junior forward Carli Moreland recorded her second consecutive double double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. The Aggies were led by Wampler who carried the load for NMSU with 20 points in the contest.

Sunday's loss is the fifth straight for New Mexico State, who falls to 1-5 on the season. Southern Utah picks up its first victory of the year to improve to 1-4 in their 2011-12 campaign.

The Thunderbirds return to Cedar City this week for their first home game of the regular season. SUU will host in-state rival Utah Valley on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Centrum Arena. Live stats and radio and video broadcasts will be available on www.SUUTBIRDS.com.

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Players Mentioned

#45 Marquelle Funk: G; 6' 0"; Redshirt

#32 Brenna Gates: C; 6' 4"; Freshman

#23 Hailey Mandelko: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#15 Carli Moreland: F; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#10 DJ Norman: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#45 Marquelle Funk
: 6' 0"; Redshirt
: G

#32 Brenna Gates
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: C

#23 Hailey Mandelko
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#15 Carli Moreland
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: F

#10 DJ Norman
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G