CEDAR CITY, Utah – After playing its first game at home, the Southern Utah University women's basketball team will travel a few hours south to take on UNLV Saturday afternoon at Cox Pavilion.
GAME INFO
Southern Utah at UNLV
Date: November 20
Tip-off: 1:00 p.m. MT
Location: Las Vegas, Nev.
Venue: Cox Pavilion
TV: Mountain West Network
Live Stream | Live Stats | Southern Utah Notes | UNLV Notes
ABOUT UNLV (2-1)
-UNLV enters Saturday's showdown with an overall record of 2-1. The Rebels started the year with victories over Oral Roberts and Montana State before falling to Northern Arizona in their most recent game.
-Lindy La Rocque is in her first season as head coach of the Rebels.
-UNLV was picked to finish third in the Mountain West Conference in the league's preseason polls.
-Essence Booker leads the Rebels by averaging 17 points per game. She is followed closely by Desi-Rae Young who is currently posting 16.3 points per contest.
LAST TIME OUT
After falling behind by 14 points early in the fourth quarter, the Southern Utah University women's basketball team fought back to pull within five and had multiple good looks to make it a one-possession game. Unfortunately, the Thunderbirds were unable to convert any of those looks and went on to drop a 60-54 decision to Utah Valley in the home opener Tuesday night at America First Event Center.
The loss dropped the T-Birds to 0-3 on the season while Utah Valley improved to 2-1.
Southern Utah made its run in the fourth quarter courtesy of a big boost off the bench from Lizzy Williamson. The Australia native went on her own personal 6-0 run and came away with a steal on defense to help the T-Birds close the gap. Williamson finished the night with a plus-minus of seven, the best mark on the team.
Kinsley Barrington led the way for SUU in scoring with 12 points and was followed by Cherita Daugherty who finished the night with nine. Daugherty also pitched in eight rebounds and three steals while Madelyn Eaton led the team with four assists.
NOTES AND QUOTES
-Southern Utah and UNLV last met in November of 2019 when the Rebels visited Cedar City. After the game went to overtime, the Thunderbirds claimed a 72-68 victory. Current T-Birds Madelyn Eaton and Darri Frandsen combined for 13 points on the night.
-SUU's last visit to Las Vegas took place in 2015 when the Rebels handed the Thunderbirds a 79-44 defeat.
-Saturday's matchup with UNLV will be SUU's lone game against a Mountain West Conference opponent this season. The T-Birds are 1-1 against MWC foes under Tracy Sanders with a win over UNLV and loss to Boise State.
-Madelyn Eaton ranks seventh in the Big Sky Conference in scoring with 14.3 points per game. She has made the sixth-most field goals in the league with 17.
-Cherita Daugherty is one of the best rebounders in the Big Sky with a total of 24 through three games. That mark is second best in the conference. Daugherty is currently averaging eight rebounds per contest.
-Darri Dotson ranks third in the Big Sky in blocked shots with five so far this season.
"I think we ended the game playing pretty hard. I thought we made some great plays defensively and picked it up. Our second half was obviously a lot better than our first half. We struggled in the first half to defend. We gave up 21 points in the first quarter, and I think we put ourselves in a difficult spot. The second half was a lot better, but we've still got a lot of work to do."
-Head Coach Tracy Sanders after dropping the team's home opener to UVU
"The ladies have been hard at work and are so excited to take the floor this November. We have some great games in our preseason with several WAC opponents as well as Colorado here in Cedar City. The Big Sky Conference will be tough as usual with some talented new coaches in the league. We just can't wait to start the season."
-Sanders on the release of the 2021-22 schedule
"I am so proud to call Southern Utah University and Cedar City home. It has been an incredible three years and I'm so excited about the direction of our program. We have some extremely talented players that have bought into both the vision and the culture of Southern Utah women's basketball. I'd like to thank Athletic Director Debbie Corum and Deputy Athletic Director Sonia Hahn for their continued support of our program and the opportunity they have given me to continue doing what I love alongside an incredible staff here at Southern Utah University."
-Sanders on her contract extension
"We are thrilled that Tracy will be leading our program for years to come. The improvement her teams have shown each year since she joined the Thunderbird family has been evident. Her players have excelled both on the court and in the classroom, and we are confident in her ability to take the program to new heights in the coming years."
-Southern Utah Athletic Director Debbie Corum on Sanders' contract extension
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