CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah University women's basketball team, winners of 14 of its last 16 games, will wrap up conference play with a pair of home games this week.

First, the Thunderbirds will host California Baptist on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. MT. Then, Southern Utah will play its final home game of the regular season against Grand Canyon on Thursday, Mar. 2 at 6:30 p.m. MT.

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GAME INFO

        

Southern Utah vs. California Baptist

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 28

Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. MT

Live Stream | Live Stats

    

Southern Utah vs. Grand Canyon

Date: Thursday, Mar. 2

Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. MT

Live Stream | Live Stats

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WAC Standings

The Western Athletic Conference is different from most conferences when it comes to seeding its teams for its conference tournament, as the standings factor in non-conference play into its rankings.

So, even though Southern Utah has a better record in conference play, it ranks second to Stephen F. Austin due to non-conference play.

The Thunderbirds are currently seeded second heading into Las Vegas.

This week, SUU faces fourth-seeded California Baptist and third-seeded Grand Canyon.

2022-23 WAC WBB Resume Seeding System (as of Feb. 27)

Rank	Team	W	L	CW	CL	WACPts
1.	Stephen F. Austin	23	5	13	3	6.14
2.	Southern Utah	18	9	14	2	3.43
3.	Grand Canyon	19	8	11	5	1.48
4.	California Baptist	16	11	12	4	1.21
5.	Utah Tech	17	10	9	7	0.30
6.	UT Arlington	14	15	8	9	-1.37
7.	Sam Houston	12	15	8	8	-2.15
8.	NM State	14	14	9	7	-2.16
9.	Abilene Christian	13	14	7	9	-3.52
10.	UTRGV	11	16	5	11	-4.03
11.	Seattle U	5	21	5	11	-9.06
12.	Tarleton	7	21	1	16	-9.13
13.	Utah Valley	6	21	3	13	-9.60

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PREVIEW

SOUTHERN UTAH (18-9, 14-2 WAC)

    

Double-Digit Conference Wins

Tracy Sanders already owns the record for most 10+ wins in school history with an 11-9 record in 2019-20, a 14-6 mark in 2021-22, and a 14-2 slate so far this year.  In fact, only one other coach has two such seasons with JR Payne going 10-8 in 2010-11 in the Summit League and 15-5 in 2013-14 in the Big Sky. 

However, with a 14-2 effort so far this season in the Western Athletic Conference, Sanders accomplished another first - back-to-back double-digit conference wins.

    

Total 10+ Conference Wins

14-2, 2022-23 (Western Athletic Conference)

14-6, 2021-22 (Big Sky)

11-9, 2019-20 (Big Sky)

15-5, 2013-14 (Big Sky)

10-8, 2010-11 (Summit)

11-5, 2000-01 (Mid-Continent)

13-3, 1985-86 (Rocky Mountain)

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Sanders Success

With the 75-70 win against Utah Valley on Saturday, Feb. 11, head coach Tracy Sanders collected her 70th win at the helm of the Thunderbirds.  That's the most wins in the first five seasons of any coach in school history (and counting)

Here are the full coaching records for wins per accumulated season with Sanders jumping into first through five seasons already this year with multiple opportunities to tack on to that lead.

    

Wins in First Season

Joy Peterson, 18 wins, 1976-77

Chris Boettcher, 13 wins, 2014-15

Boyd Adams, 9 wins, 1982-83

Joe Hillock, 9 wins, 1996-97

Steve Hodson, 9 wins, 2006-07

Kit Janes, 9 wins, 2008-09

Kathryn Berg, 8 wins, 1975-76

Tracy Sanders, 8 wins, 2018-19

Clay Anderson, 7 wins, 1988-89

JR Payne, 7 wins, 2009-10

Larry Shurtliff, 6 wins, 1991-92

Gordon Kerbs, 4 wins, 1990-91

    

Wins Through 2 Seasons

Joy Peterson, 31 wins, 1976-78

Tracy Sanders, 26 wins, 2018-20

Joe Hillock, 25 wins, 1996-98

JR Payne, 23 wins, 2008-10

Boyd Adams, 21 wins, 1982-84

Chris Boettcher, 19 wins, 2014-16

Larry Shurtliff, 18 wins, 1991-93

Steve Hodson, 15 wins, 2006-07

Clay Anderson, 12 wins, 1988-90

        

Wins Through 3 Seasons

Joy Peterson, 46 wins, 1976-79

Joe Hillock, 41 wins, 1996-99

Tracy Sanders, 37 wins, 2018-21

Boyd Adams, 34 wins, 1982-85

Larry Shurtliff, 34 wins, 1991-94

JR Payne, 29 wins, 2009-12

Chris Boettcher, 26 wins, 2014-17

    

Wins Through 4 Seasons

Joy Peterson, 57 wins, 1976-80

Tracy Sanders, 55 wins, 2018-22

Joe Hillock, 53 wins, 1996-00

Larry Shurtliff, 51 wins, 1991-95

Boyd Adams, 50 wins, 1982-86

JR Payne, 44 wins, 2009-13

Chris Boettcher, 29 wins, 2014-18

    

Wins Through 5 Seasons

Tracy Sanders, 73 wins, 2018-Present

Joe Hillock, 69 wins, 1996-2001

Larry Shurtliff, 68 wins, 1991-96 

JR Payne, 67 wins, 2009-14

Boyd Adams, 66 wins, 1982-87

Joy Peterson, 63 wins, 1976-81

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National Rankings!

Southern Utah ranks among the top in the country in several categories.

        

Total Rebounds/Game - TEAM

1. Troy, 51.34

19. Southern Utah, 42.19

        

Rebound Margin - TEAM

1. South Carolina, 21.1

23. Southern Utah, 7.6

        

Total Blocks/Game - TEAM

1. South Carolina, 9.0

15. Southern Utah, 5.0

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T-Bird Tidbits

• The Thunderbirds boast a 14-2 conference record.

• Southern Utah has already clinched its spot in the WAC tournament in March.

• The Thunderbirds score 68.4 points a game while holding their opponents to 66.2 points each game.

• Cherita Daugherty leads the T-Birds offense with 15.0 points per game.

• Lizzy Williamson averages a double-double by scoring 10.0 points a game and snatching a team-high 10.0 rebounds per game.

• Daylani Ballena (11.2), Megan Jensen (11.1), and Tomekia Whitman (10.5) also score over 10 points a game.

• Ballena paces the squad with 3.6 assists a game while Daugherty is close with 3.5 helpers a game.

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LAST TIME OUT

First Half 

In their final road game of the regular season, the Thunderbirds exploded out of the gate on a 9-0 run, as Megan Jensen and Ballena both hit jumpers, and Johnston struck from three before sinking a mid-range jumper at the 7:48 mark in the first quarter. 

After Tarleton got their first buckets of the game from two free throws, Southern Utah extended its lead to double digits off a Lizzy Williamson turnaround layup and a top-of-the-key three-pointer from Whitman, giving SUU a double-digit lead,14-4, heading into their first media timeout with 4:17 left in the first quarter. 

Coming out of the timeout, the Texans started to find life, connecting with a three-pointer and two jumpers, but the Thunderbirds would close out the quarter with layups from Whitman and Jensen to give SUU the 22-13 after one quarter. 

Southern Utah continued to build up steam offensively to start the second quarter, jolting on a 6-2 run, highlighted by a pick pocketing steal from Whitman for a fast-break layup and Johnston's second three-pointer of the game, putting the Thunderbirds in front 29-18 midway through the second quarter. 

Tarleton quickly started to find an answer and rocketed onto a 17-4 run off three possessions with triples and a flurry of free throws to bring the home side within one point with 1:35 left on the clock before Ballena hit a mid-range jumper to make the score 35-32 going into halftime. 

Second Half

The Thunderbirds came out of the half composed and responded with an 11-3 run as Williamson muscled in a layup, Whitman hit a jumper, and Ballena and Johnston drained back-to-back three-pointers to extend SUU's lead back to double figures 46-35, forcing a Tarleton timeout at the 6:10 mark. 

Both teams began to catch fire from behind the arc as TSU recorded three straight possessions with threes to trim the Thunderbird's lead to 50-44, but Whitman would immediately answer with a deep three of her own to extend the lead back to nine 53-44, with 4:03 left in the quarter. 

Following a two-minute scoring drought from each side, Tarleton would find a response with another three-pointer and two layups to bring the score back to 55-51 at the end of the third. 

SUU began the fourth quarter strong as Whitman and Johnston each canned a jumper. The Texans kept finding answers and hit two jumpers and a three to cut the lead down to 61-58 with two minutes into the period, making the Thunderbirds call a timeout. 

Coming out of  the timeout, Tarleton grabbed their first lead of the game, 66-65, with 3:57 minutes remaining. On the next possession, Ballena came right back by going straight to the rim and forcing a foul for two free throws and a mid-range jumper on the next possession to give SUU back the lead, 69-68, with 3:06 left. 

As the clock ticked under three minutes to play, Tarleton tied it back up by splitting two free throws before Cherita Daugherty hit a mid-range jumper to put the Thunderbirds on top 71-69 with under 1:26 to play. The following possession, TSU, would hit a floater in the middle of the key to bring both team's level and force overtime. 

Overtime 

Johnston opened overtime with a triple to give the Thunderbirds the early 74-71 edge. Tarleton would take back the advantage with two layups and a free throw to go back on top up with 76-74 with 3:35 on the clock. 

After Jensen hit a layup to tie the game, Ballena would take control, splashing a mid-range jumper and getting to the free throw line with force for two free throws to help clinch the narrow 80-78 victory.

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OPPONENTS

CALIFORNIA BAPTIST LANCERS (16-11, 12-4 WAC)

CBU owns a 16-11 overall record with a 12-4 effort in conference play.

California Baptist scores 73.5 points a game while its competition scores 70.0 points per game.

A trio of Lancers score in double figures with Trinity San Antonio (15.6), Grace Schmidt (13.7), and Chloe Webb (10.1) powering the offense.

Dorcas Wu corrals a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game, while Brittany Klaman dishing out 3.2 assists per game.

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GRAND CANYON ANTELOPES (19-8, 11-5 WAC)

GCU boasts a 19-8 record with a 11-5 mark in conference play.

Grand Canyon scores 72.3 points a game while holding its opponents to only 61.6 points each game.

Olivia Lane (12.0), Naudia Evans (11.7), and Tiarra Brown (11.4) all score over 10 points a game for the Antelopes.

Evan Zars leads the squad with 7.1 boards per game, while Evans distributes a team-high 3.0 assists per game.

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HISTORY

The Thunderbirds have never faced California Baptist.

Southern Utah has won the last two meetings against Grand Canyon, while the Antelopes lead the overall series 3-2.

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