CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah women's basketball team has a big week ahead of them as they prepare to host Northern Arizona, Eastern Washington, and Idaho for three games in six days.
Last Time Out
The Lady T-Birds hosted Northern Colorado on Thursday, losing to the Bears 44-71.
The Thunderbirds came out hot in the first quarter shooting 3-for-3 from the three-point line and holding the Bears to just 1-for-7. They also outrebounded the Bears 13-5. The T-Birds were able to put together a 12-0 run to make it 14-3 early, while holding UNC to 0-for-6 from the field during that time.
It was all Bears from there however as they outscored the Thunderbirds 20-10 in the third quarter and 19-8 in the fourth. The T-Birds only scored on three field goals in the second half, with 12 of their 18 points coming from the free throw line.
"We had good energy to start the game and we were executing. Defensively, we were locked in and we were doing a great job securing the rebounds," head coach Tracy Sanders said. "Our offense and defense go hand in hand and when we are scoring we usually defend better and that was how we started the game, but we got a lead and I think we got a little complacent."
Scouting Report: Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (5-11, 1-6 BSC)
Monday's game will already be the second meeting this season between the Thunderbirds and the Lumberjacks. The two teams played in Flagstaff on January 12 in a game that went to overtime. The Thunderbirds were able to come away with the win, outscoring the 'Jacks 15-9 in extra time for the 82-76 win.
Kaleigh Paplow leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.9 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game. Paplow had a season-high 26 points and pulled in 12 rebounds in the loss to the T-Birds.
Head coach Loree Payne in just her second season at the helm of the Lumberjacks after spending seven seasons as the head coach of Puget Sound.
Scouting Report: Eastern Washington Eagles (4-12, 3-4 BSC)
The Eagles have won two of their last three games, picking up road wins against Montana and Montana State over the last two weeks. Senior Violet Kapri Morrow scored a career-high 37 points against the Bobcats and was named College Madness Big Sky Player of the Week for her performance.
Morrow is the leading scorer for the Eagles, averaging 18.4 points per game. She also averages 5.6 rebounds per game, the highest average on the team.
Last season, the Eagles won both matchups between the two teams, with the Thunderbirds' last win coming at the end of the 2016-17 season in Cheney.
Scouting Report: Idaho Vandals (8-8, 5-2 BSC)
After making to the championship game in last year's Big Sky Championship tournament, the Idaho Vandals are right back in the mix this season starting conference play 5-2. Their only losses have come to reigning champs Northern Colorado and the Montana Grizzlies.
Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce are the big scoring duo for the Vandals as Ferenz is currently averaging 22.1 points per game and Pierce is averaging 18. Ferenz's 22.1 ppg is the eighth highest rate in the entire country. Natalie Klinker is the leading rebounder for the Vandals, pulling in 7.6 rpg.
The Thunderbirds are 0-8 against the Vandals since joining the Big Sky in 2012.
Game Info
Monday January 28 vs Northern Arizona
Tip off: 6:30 PM MT
Live stream: PlutoTV Ch. 236
Live stats: tbirdstats.com
Thursday January 31 vs Eastern Washington
Tip off: 6:30 PM MT
Live stream: PlutoTV Ch. 236
Live stats: tbirdstats.com
Saturday February 2 vs Idaho
Tip off: 2:00 PM MT
Live stream: PlutoTV Ch. 236
Live stats: tbirdstats.com
Tickets
Tickets for the Lady T-Birds' next home game on January 28 against Northern Arizona are available at tbirdtickets.com or the America First Event Center Ticket Office. Fans can also purchase a Women's Sports Pass for access to all 2018-19 home games.
Follow Us
Stay up to date during the 2018-19 Lady T-Bird Basketball season by following @SUUWBasketball on Twitter and Instagram and liking the Southern Utah Women's Basketball page on Facebook.
