SEATTLE, Wash. – The scoring trio of Cherita Daugherty, Megan Jensen, and Daylani Ballena each finished with 20 points to power the Southern Utah University women's basketball team over the Seattle Redhawks Saturday afternoon, 75-62 in Climate Pledge Arena. The win improves the Thunderbirds to 7-7 (3-0 WAC), while Seattle Falls to 1-13 (1-3 WAC).

TBIRD TIDBITS

• The Thunderbirds found efficient looks throughout the night, scoring 48 points in the paint compared to Seattle U's 28 while outshooting the Redhawks 44.3 percent to 35.3 percent. 
• Southern Utah held a clear advantage on the boards outrebounding the Redhawks 48 to 26. 

SCORING LEADERS 

After averaging 21.3 points in her last three games, Cherita Daugherty continued to stay hot, scoring 21 points with eight rebounds and five assists. Megan Jensen improved her scoring season-high, finishing with 20 points on 10-17 shooting and six rebounds, while Daylani Ballena added 20 points and four assists of her own. 

Lizzy Williamson secured her sixth double-double of the season, racking up 12 points, 14 rebounds, and a game-high three blocks. Alexa Lord had another spirited hustle performance swiping two steals and grabbing five rebounds. 

FIRST HALF

Each side traded buckets to open the game before the Thunderbirds catapulted to an early 8-4 lead off of six straight points from Jensen and a mid-range jumper from Ballena. 

After the Redhawks cut into the deficit with two three-pointers, Cherita Daugherty and Daylani Ballena connected on two layups to give the SUU the lead of 16-11, going into the first media timeout.

Coming out of the timeout, the T-Birds turned on the pressure and surged back on a quick 6-2 run off two layups from Jensen and Williamson to push SUU out to a 22-13 lead. 

As Seattle U started to find life towards the end of the first quarter, Daugherty went straight to the basket, earning four free throws and putting the Thunderbirds in front 25-19 at the end of the first. 

The Redhawks found an answer, coming out of the break with three deep jumpers from downtown, grabbing their first lead of 34-33 at the 4:45 mark in the second quarter. before the Thunderbirds closed out the half on a 9-0 run off a Daugherty three-pointer and a flurry of Jensen layups to get SUU's lead back up to double digits 46-36. 

SECOND HALF

 Ballena and Williamson sunk two layups out of the half to give the Thunderbirds their largest lead of the game, 50-36, with 8:27 left.  

 Seattle would respond with a mid-range jumper and a layup, but the Thunderbirds kept the intensity as the half progressed. A Ballena pull-up jumper and a Daugherty crafty layup helped maintain a 61-51 at the end of the third.

Southern Utah bolstered their lead to start the fourth quarter when Jensen and Daugherty both went end to end for transition layups to help make the score 69-54 with under five minutes to play. 

The Redhawks would not go away as they fought back on a 6-0 run to bring the game to 69-60 with 3:37 left to play, but the Thunderbirds would close out the game with a Daugherty fade away jumper and a slicing coast-to-coast layup from Ballena to secure the 75-62 victory for the SUU. 

UP NEXT 

Southern Utah will now return to Cedar City for a two-game homestead, starting with a rivalry matchup against the Utah Valley Wolverines on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 6:30 P.M. MT before hosting the Sam Houston Bearkats on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 4:30 P.M. MT. 

Follow Us

For all the latest on Southern Utah women's basketball, follow @SUUWBasketball on Twitter and Instagram and like the Southern Utah Women's Basketball Facebook page.