Women's Basketball 1/15/2012 12:36:00 AM SUU Strategic Communication

Thunderbird Rally Comes Up Just Short at Western Illinois

MACOMB, Ill. – Jan. 14 – Southern Utah mounted a strong rally in the second half of its road contest at Western Illinois Saturday, but the Thunderbirds would come up just short as the Leathernecks were able to hold on for the 82-70 victory. Freshman guard Hailey Mandelko scored 20 points for SUU, helping her team come within as little as three points late in the game, but four Leathernecks would finish in the double-figures to help WIU take the 12-point win.

Tayler Anderson got the Thunderbird offense going early in the game, scoring five points in the first two minutes as the junior forward followed up a lay-up with a three-pointer to give SUU a 6-2 advantage. Western Illinois then answered with a 9-0 run, fueled by five points from Sadie Webb, that saw the home team go up 11-6. After the two sides traded a few baskets, the Leathernecks found themselves ahead by a count of 18-10 near the 12-minute mark.

Southern Utah rallied back as Hailey Mandelko hit a three to finish off a 14-4 run that put the T-Birds up by two at 24-22. The remainder of the half belonged to the Leathernecks however, who outscored the Thunderbirds 22-5 over the final seven minutes of the period to take a 44-29 lead into the break.

Senior guard Valencia Kelly led Western Illinois with 13 points in the opening period, while Sadie Webb put up nine for the Leathernecks. Anderson and Carli Moreland each had seven for Southern Utah in the early going to back up Mandelko who scored nine points in the first half.

The T-Birds opened the second half with six straight points, including four from Moreland, to get the lead back into the single-figures as they trailed Western Illinois by a score of 44-35. Another quick Leatherneck run would put the home team back up by 14 however, as a three-pointer by Saule Kontautaite pushed the margin to 51-37 near the 15 minute mark.

The Thunderbirds played from behind throughout the remainder of the game, slowly chipping away at the Leatherneck lead. Finally after a Moreland lay-up SUU found itself down by just six just past the halfway mark of the final period. Michele Salvatori would hit a shot from the outside to extend the margin back to nine but an 8-2 run for Southern Utah, capped by a three-ball by Mandelko, pulled the Thunderbirds within three at 65-62 with just over six-minutes left on the clock. Salvatori then came back with another three to help the Leathernecks close out the game by outscoring SUU 17-8 over the closing minutes for a 82-70 final.

Hailey Mandelko had a big night for SUU as the freshman guard hit three shots from behind the arc on the way to her fourth 20-point game of the season. Carli Moreland also had an outstanding performance, turning in her fifth double-double this year with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Western Illinois would have four players finish in the double-figures as the Leathernecks got 14 from Salvatori to go along with 16 from Kelly, while Kontautaite put up 19 and Webb finished with 20.

After Saturday's win, Western Illinois improves to 6-10 on the year and is now 3-3 in conference play. Southern Utah falls to 0-6 in the Summit League and is 4-13 overall.

The Thunderbirds will be back in action this Monday as they visit IUPUI. SUU will tip things off against the Jaguars at 7 p.m. (ET)

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Players Mentioned

#31 Tayler Anderson: G/F; 6' 0"; Junior

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

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

Players Mentioned

#31 Tayler Anderson
: 6' 0"; Junior
: G/F

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

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

Players Mentioned

#31 Tayler Anderson

#23 Hailey Mandelko

#15 Carli Moreland

Players Mentioned

#31 Tayler Anderson

#23 Hailey Mandelko

#15 Carli Moreland