Lady Thunderbirds Collect Meaningful Win in Final Exhibition Contest

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Nov. 7 - Southern Utah's 84-59 win over Mesa State on Friday night might have been just an exhibition game, but the victory had a far greater reach than on the hardwood. Coaches and players each expressed their focus in winning the game for head coach Steve Hodson who had passed away from a prolonged battle with cancer on Monday night.

"This was a very emotional game for us," sophomore guard Stephanie Sampson said after the contest. "We wanted to go out and play for Coach Hod and the team really came together and played well."

"Our biggest concern going into this game was about the emotions," interim head coach Kit Janes said. "There are a lot of close ties in that locker room and we were able to come out and do a lot of good things tonight."

Southern Utah began the game with a 3-point bucket by Sampson, three of her team-high 18 points on the night. The T-Birds never looked back, building their first double-digit lead of the game (16-6) with 14:08 on the clock on a 3-point basket by freshman Cassie Platt. Platt is one of two players on the current roster who had played for Coach Hodson at Canyon View High School and with SUU.

The Thunderbirds displayed great ball movement in the first half, collecting ten assists on the team's 12 buckets during the first 20 minutes. Junior Lyndie NeVille ended the game with a game-high six assists on the night and gave the T-Birds their biggest lead of the half at 40-24 with a 3-pointer with 11 ticks left before intermission.

That margin remained through the break and grew to a 21-point divide (45-24) a minute into the second half on a Cassi Jones layup. Mesa State only trimmed the lead to as little as 12 during the final 20 minutes, but a 12-2 run over the final five minutes of the game sealed the 84-59 victory for the 'Birds.

Sampson was joined by Jones (12) and Anne Higbee (10) in double figures with Jones also tying Challis Pascucci for a team-high six rebounds. Abby Hancock (12), Alishea Kelly (11) and Stephanie Delgado (10) paced the Mavericks in double figures with Delgado also leading the team with a game-high seven rebounds.

Southern Utah will begin the regular season when the Thunderbirds host UC Davis on Friday, Nov. 14. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#42 Cassi Jones: F; 6' 3"; Freshman

#5 Lyndie NeVille: G; 5' 8"; Junior

#24 Challis Pascucci: F; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#23 Cassie Platt: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

#35 Stephanie Sampson: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#42 Cassi Jones
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: F

#5 Lyndie NeVille
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G

#24 Challis Pascucci
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: F

#23 Cassie Platt
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G

#35 Stephanie Sampson
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G