CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah University women's basketball team will wrap up non-conference play on the road against the University of Texas at El Paso on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. MT.
GAME INFO
Southern Utah vs. UTEP
   Date: Saturday, Dec. 30
   Tip-off: 2 p.m. MT
   Live Stream | Live Stats
HEAD COACH TRACY MASON SAYS
"Our preseason wraps up with another tough one. UTEP has played some great competition and they are a very solid team. We will have to play great team defense and execute offensively against a variety of defenses they will throw our way."
TOP T-BIRDS
-
Megan Smith leads the team in points (17.2), rebounds (6.7), and blocks (1.8) per game.
-
Daylani Ballena sparks the offense with 14.8 points and 3.4 assists each game.
-
Ava Uhrich averages 12.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game for the Thunderbirds.
-
Samantha Johnston scores 6.5 points and dishes out 3.4 assists each game for Southern Utah.
LAST TIME OUT
Southern Utah vs. Northern Arizona
First Half
The Thunderbirds took a 4-0 lead to start the game, with Daylani Ballena and Megan Smith each knocking down a field goal. The Lumberjacks responded with an 11-2 stretch to jump in front 11-6 midway through the first quarter. Charli Kay and Ava Uhrich combined for nine points to spark a 15-7 run that gave SUU a 21-18 lead at the end of the first period.
The second quarter was a back-and-forth affair. After the Lumberjacks knotted things up at 23-23, Kay canned a triple to push the Thunderbirds in front 26-23. NAU fought back to briefly retake the lead, 28-26, but it didn't last long. Smith scored the next six points for Southern Utah to give the T-Birds a 32-30 advantage with 5:17 remaining in the first half. The Lumberjacks closed the half with a 13-8 run as the Thunderbirds trailed 43-40 at the break.
Second Half
Smith stayed hot for Southern Utah, chipping in five points as the T-Birds outscored the Lumberjacks 10-5 to go up by two, 50-48, midway through the period. However, Northern Arizona battled back with a 12-6 spurt to take a 60-56 advantage heading into the final period of play.
Smith and Uhrich each scored layups to tie the game at 60-60 early in the fourth quarter, but that was as close as the Thunderbirds would get, as the Lumberjacks would go on to claim a 81-70 victory.
SCOUTING REPORT: UTEP MINERS
-
The Miners own a 4-8 record and are currently on a five game losing streak.
-
UTEP scores 67.2 points per game, while its opponents average 73.2 points each contest.
-
Jane Asinde (15.1) and Erin Wilson (12.9) each score in double figures for the Miners.
HISTORY
This will be the first meeting between the Thunderbirds and the Miners.
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.
DONATE
To help support Thunderbird athletics consider making a donation today! To learn more about how you can support click here.
