CEDAR CITY, Utah – Despite a four-point game in the final minutes, Southern Utah never lost its lead and enjoyed a 73-66 senior night victory over North Dakota.
“We were playing really well as a cohesive unit tonight and that is something that we have been struggling to do for awhile,” Brenna Gates said. “A lot of things just came together.”
Gates led the Thunderbirds with 20 points as Desiree Jackson added 19. Jackson also contributed career-high eight assists and five steals. Southern Utah shot 45.2% from the field as Northern Colorado finished with a 33.8 field goal percentage.
“It was a great, great win. Not only because we need the win but it was a great way to go out,” Jackson said. “We had so much energy and you could just tell that we were having fun. That translated to our success.”
The opening minute was scoreless before Jackson found Marquelle Funk on a fast break to put the game's first points on the board. North Dakota responded with a layup to tie the game at two before Gates poured in a free throw to regain SUU's lead. A three-point play from Jackson and back-to-back Gates layups extended Southern Utah's lead to nine.
Gates connected with Sydnee Taylor for a three to set a 14-2 game. UND put in a bucket before Jackson knocked in a trey and Gates finished a layup to build a 15-point lead. The Thunderbird scoring rally continued with layup from Funk and a short jumper from Gates. Funk tacked in another layup and Jackson finished a three to grasp a 28-9 Southern Utah lead with just over five minutes to play in the opening half.
“It was definitely refreshing. There was a different energy we brought to the floor tonight,” Funk stated. “We were all really focused and everyone came out a little bit stronger and a little bit harder.”
North Dakota rallied ahead with a ten-point run in the final minutes of the half before Ashleigh Munns knocked in a trey to keep SUU's lead alive. UND quickly responded with a three-pointer to force a seven-point game before Gates executed a three-point play in the last minute to enter halftime with a 10-point lead at 36-26.
Gates led the Thunderbirds in the opening half with 15 points as Jackson contributed nine. Jackson tacked an impressive seven assists, two blocks and three steals as Southern Utah wrapped up the first half shooting 46.7% from the field. North Dakota shot 29.4% in the first half.
UND cut Southern Utah's lead to seven to open the second half before a short corner from Richardson and a jumper from Taylor stretched the T-Birds lead to nine. Munns drained a three-pointer before North Dakota battled to cut the difference to five. Jackson tacked in a bucket and Gates finished another three-point play to put SUU's lead back to 10.
Southern Utah led at 52-42 before a trey from UND forced a seven-point game. UND cut the lead to seven, once again, before Gates poured in a layup and Munns knocked in a trey to snag a 57-47 advantage. North Dakota forced a four-point game with nine minutes to play-- the closest the game had been since the opening minutes. Southern Utah wasn't about to give UND a chance as Funk and Munns each put in treys and Jackson finished a drive to regain SUU's double-digit lead at 67-53.
UND took a 9-2 rally to cut SUU's lead to seven with 2:25 to play. Jackson grabbed a clutch steal with just under two minutes to play and it was smooth sailing from there as SUU rounded out senior night with a big 73-66 win.
“We have to get ourselves ready and focused for Thursday,” head coach Chris Boettcher said. “And then hopefully we can put ourselves in the position on Saturday to have a chance to beat Portland State and get in the tournament.”
The battle for a seed in the Big Sky tournament continues as Southern Utah hits the road for its final two games by taking on Sacramento State on Thursday, Mar. 5 and Portland State on Saturday, Mar. 7.
