By: Keller Sherman
Featured Image Courtesy of Southern Utah Athletics
LAS VEGAS — Southern Utah looked like the team that won the WAC regular season title Friday afternoon. Perhaps Traci Sanders’s halftime speech in Wednesday’s quarterfinal against New Mexico State had something to do with that. Down by 16 points against the seventh-seeded Aggies, this team has played much better since then. It was not going to be easy against Grand Canyon, but the Thunderbirds made it look that way all game. After dispatching GCU 64-51, SUU is one win away from its first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament.
How It Happened
Megan Jensen led all Thunderbirds in scoring with her 22-point showing. Cherita Daugherty and Tomekia Whitman also scored in double figures with 16 and 10 points respectively. Aaliyah Collins and Alaina Harper led the scoring for the Lopes as the two combined for nearly half of GCU’s points. Even when the Lopes attempted to come back, the Thunderbirds were always ready to answer.
Up Next
California Baptist is the only thing standing in the way of an NCAA Tournament berth. While a WNIT berth is already guaranteed with a loss, the Big Dance is the clear goal. The Thunderbirds defeated the Lancers in their only meeting of the season 83-75 eleven days ago in Cedar City. That was the game in which SUU celebrated clinching a share of the WAC regular season title.