CEDAR CITY, Utah - Despite the Southern Utah University Women's Basketball team scoring more points than they have against any Division I team this season, California Baptist University pulled off a 69-66 comeback win. The Feb. 6 loss at home means the Thunderbirds drop to 4-18, with a 2-7 Western Athletic Conference record, while the Lancers boost ahead to 8-14 overall and 5-3 in the conference.
Top T-Birds
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Sinking five three-pointers, Samantha Johnston scored a season-high 18 points, adding four rebounds and three assists.
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Lexi Bull led the team in rebounding with nine boards, also chipping in nine points, four assists and three steals.
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Daylani Ballena scored 12 points and brought down four rebounds.
Head Coach Tracy Mason Said:
Game Recap
First Half
Lexi Bull and Ava Uhrich kicked off an impressive first half, combining for the Thunderbirds' first 10 points. Before the end of the first quarter, Ashley Banks added two buckets to put SUU up 16-13.
Southern Utah's 27-point second quarter started with back-to-back three-pointers from Uhrich before Samantha Johnston connected on two triples of her own. A breakaway steal and score from Kortney Doman extended the lead to double-digits. Daylani Ballena added two more last-second baskets to the SUU totals even more heading into halftime up 43-28.
Second Half
The Lancers burst out of the half on a 14-2 run, slowing down the strong Thunderbird offense and piecing together a scoring spree of their own. After CBU stole the lead for themselves, a perimeter three from Johnston put Southern Utah back on top in a 51-49 game.
California Baptist pushed back ahead, but Johnston drained a three to cut it to a one-point game. She immediately knocked down another three and was fouled, so a four-point play extended the Thunderbird lead to three. The Lancers made one final run to come back and take the game 69-66.
Highlights
Up Next
The Thunderbirds will hit the road for their first conference matchup of the year with the Abilene Christian University Wildcats on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 12:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Tickets
Season tickets, mini packages, and single-game tickets are now available! Get yours today by visiting tbirdtickets.com.
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