By: Keller Sherman
Featured Image Courtesy of Keller Sherman
LAS VEGAS — Sixth in the coaches poll, eighth in the media poll. Now, the Lady Thunderbirds are looking to complete the sweep of the regular season and tournament crowns in the WAC. This is something that few thought was possible in the preseason, but Southern Utah has proven everyone wrong. Only T-Bird Nation thought the Thunderbirds could get here, and even that took a high level of optimism. Against all odds, SUU will be playing for a trip to the NCAA Tournament Saturday afternoon. They will have to defeat a red-hot California Baptist team that just knocked off top-seeded Stephen F Austin. Can the Thunderbirds continue to add to the history they’ve made this season?
Last Time Out
After a sloppy quarterfinal outing versus New Mexico State, SUU played a much better game in the semifinals. Defeating the Lopes 64-51 may not have been complete domination, but the Thunderbirds showed just how great they have been all year. From all those second-half comebacks and gritty wins, winning a game comfortably against an opponent of GCU’s quality was satisfying. Now, the focus moves to a California Baptist team that is in its first year of being eligible for the NCAA Tournament. The Lancers completed their four-year Division I transition this season.
Lance Up For This One
The Thunderbirds will have their hands full with a team seeking to make the Big Dance in their first year eligible for it. Trinity San Antonio can score for the Lancers. She averages 15.2 points per game but has been quiet in the WAC tournament. Trinity has combined for only 7 points in Vegas and could be poised for a big game in the WAC final. Chloe Webb has been a threat off the bench scoring 34 combined points in CBU’s two tournament games thus far. She has led the scoring for the Lancers in both games they have played thus far at Orleans Arena.