T-BIRDS SET FOR ROAD TESTS AT BYU AND UTAH VALLEY
The Thunderbirds will return to Utah this week for back-to-back road matchups with in-state rivals Brigham Young and Utah Valley. The Cougars have won six straight, with victories over Arizona and Syracuse in their last two games, and will bring an overall record of 7-2 into their contest with SUU which is set for this Thursday at 7 p.m in Provo. BYU holds a 22-3 advantage in the all-time series with the Thunderbirds, and took a 72-39 decision in their last meeting during the 2009-10 season. The T-Birds will round out the weekend with a visit to UVU on Saturday at 3 p.m.. Southern Utah knocked off the Wolverines in Cedar City last week as freshman point guard Hailey Mandelko scored a career high 23 points to lead SUU to an 80-65 victory.
FOLLOW THE THUNDERBIRDS
Southern Utah University women's basketball fans can follow all home and select away games via LiveStats at www.SUUTBIRDS.com. All home games will be video streamed on www.SUUTBIRDS.com and broadcast on the radio at 91.1 FM and online at www.suu.edu/hss/comm/ksuu/webcast.html.
ABOUT THE BYU COUGARS
The Cougars have won six straight games and currently hold a 7-2 record on the year after capturing the Hukilau Invitational a week ago with victories over Arizona and Syracuse.
BYU holds a 22-3 advantage in the all-time series with the Thunderbirds, and took a 72-39 decision in their last meeting during the 2009-10 season. The Cougar squad features seven returning letterwinners, led by Kim Parker who is averaging 13.7 points a contest. The Cougars are coached by Jeff Judkins who enters his 10th season at the school where he has compiled a career record of 212-110.
SOUTHERN UTAH DROPS ROAD CONTEST AT ORAL ROBERTS
Oral Roberts turned in its best offensive performance of the season on its way to a 109-59 victory over Southern Utah. The Golden Eagles shot over 50% from the field and made 10 three-pointers to pull away from visiting SUU. Two-time All-Summit League Player of the Year Kevi Luper led all scorers with 31 to help her team to its highest offensive output of the season. ORU would also get 13 from Bigham while Jordan Pyle and Amber Carver each finished with 10. The Thunderbirds were led by Carli Moreland who set a new career mark with eight free throws on her way to 14 total points. The sophomore forward also recorded her third double double of the season as she pulled down 10 rebounds. Hailey Mandelko finished with 13 in the game, nine of which came on threes, while Torey Hill came off the bench for a career high eight points on 4-6 shooting.
SOUTHERN UTAH PULLS AWAY FROM UTAH VALLEY, 80-65
Southern Utah had one of its most productive nights of offense so far this season on Wednesday, outscoring visiting in-state rival Utah Valley by a final count of 80-65. Freshman point guard Hailey Mandelko led all scorers with 23 points, finishing the game 4-8 from behind the arc and 7-7 at the free throw line, setting career marks in all three categories. Three other players would also score in the double-figures for SUU as Kimie Hawkins had 12, DJ Norman matched a career high with 10 and Carli Moreland set a new personal best with 17. Junior forward Tayler Anderson also helped to fill the box score with eight points, seven assists and eight rebounds. Junior center Erica Newbold paced Utah Valley with 14 points, six of which came from the free throw line.
T-BIRDS KNOCK OFF NEW MEXICO STATE IN FINAL SECONDS
Southern Utah captured its first win of the young season 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. Mandelko finished the game with 14 total points, and was one of four T-Birds to score in the double figures. Tayler 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.
SOUTHERN UTAH EDGED BY NORTH DAKOTA AT THANKSGIVING CLASSIC
Southern Utah was once again denied its first win of the season on Friday as the Thunderbirds were narrowly edged by North Dakota at the Aggie Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic hosted by New Mexico State University. The game proved to be a tightly contested matchup as the lead changed hands 10 times over the course of the action until the Fighting Sioux were ultimately able to hold off the T-Birds in the final minutes for a 62-61 victory. The Thunderbirds had two players post double doubles in the game as Hawkins finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Moreland went for 15 and pulled down 11 boards. As a team SUU outworked UND on the glass, leading the opposition by a final count of 44-39. The T-Bird defense also forced the Fighting Sioux to commit 23 turnovers, which they were able to convert into 19 points.
T-BIRDS RECEIVE FIRST COMMIT OF 2012 RECRUITING CLASS
Basia Klein of San Clemente, Calif. signed an NLI to play at Southern Utah and will join the Thunderbirds next fall. The 5'11” forward has had a remarkable high school career so far, averaging 15 points, eight rebounds, and five steals during her time at Santa Margarita. Her team recognized her efforts by giving her their Most Improved Player Award as a Varsity Starter in 2010. She has also been listed as a prospect on the ESPN Hoopgurlz listings for the past three seasons.
THUNDERBIRDS ADD TWO NEW ASSISTANTS TO COACHING STAFF
Southern Utah University has announced the hiring of assistant coaches Nicole Ryan and Caitlyn Sears who will join T-Birds women's basketball team. Nicole Ryan comes to Southern Utah from American University where after a successful playing career, spent a year as a student assistant. Ryan was a standout guard at American where she helped lead the Eagles to three consecutive NIT appearances and one regular season championship in the Patriot League.
Caitlyn Sears continues to be an important contributor to T-Bird basketball as she makes the transition from player to coach. This past season Sears concluded one of the most productive playing careers in the history of SUU basketball, becoming Southern Utah's fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,216 total points.
THUNDERBIRDS ACCEPT INVITATION TO JOIN BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Southern Utah University's athletic program will have a new home, beginning in the fall of 2012, as the Thunderbirds have accepted an invitation to join the Big Sky Conference. SUU received and accepted a formal invitation to join the conference on Friday. The University of North Dakota also accepted an invitation from the Big Sky on Friday and will be announcing its intent to join the conference today. Southern Utah will reap many benefits as members of the Big Sky, including reduced travel costs, ease of scheduling and, at least in the case of football, the opportunity to play for an automatic post-season bid. Last, but certainly not least, SUU's programs will be able to build on natural regional rivalries within the conference rather than with institutions with no geographic ties to Utah. The Thunderbirds currently compete in The Summit League in the majority of their sports, with the closest conference opponent located in Tulsa, Okla. With the exception of North Dakota, every school in the Big Sky will be closer geographically to SUU than the nearest Summit League institution. That translates into savings in the travel budgets of all sports as well as regional name recognition for the conference rivals.
