Thunderbird Women Begin 2009 with 85-67 Victory over Westminster

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Jan. 1 - Southern Utah women's basketball built a double-digit lead at the half and then outscored Wesminster 13-0 over the first three minutes of the second half en route to an 85-67 victory on Thursday night. The win gives the Thunderbirds a 5-7 record on the year while the Griffins drop to 10-6.

"Turnovers continue to be an issue for us," interim head coach Kit Janes said of the 24 turnovers by the T-Birds during the night. "The beginning of the second half we did a lot better, but Westminster is a quality team and really made us work for this tonight."

The Griffins opened the first half with a 12-6 run to take an early lead, but Southern Utah countered with a 7-1 run over the next three minutes to tie the game at 13-13. The Thunderbirds used another five-minute 14-2 run late in the half to take a 31-19 lead with 2:43 on the clock.

The double-digit lead held into the intermission with Southern Utah taking a 35-25 advantage into the break. Westminster's Alexis Tucker led all first-half scorers with 11.

Southern Utah came out of the locker rooms strong, stringing together 13 unanswered points over the first three minutes building a lead of 23 points (48-25) with 17:04 on the clock.

The Thunderbirds maintained a lead in the 20's throughout most of the second half, but Westminster trimmed the deficit into the teens and as close as 14 (77-63) before Southern Utah's starters reentered the game and closed out the final two minutes of the game. SUU capped the 85-67 victory on a Caitlyn Sears' 3-point field goal, marking the final basket of the game.

Stephanie Sampson (13), Sears (11) and Cassie Platt (10) led Southern Utah in scoring as each poured in double digits. Westminster's Shannon Evans led all scorers with a game-high 15 points with Tucker finishing with 13.

The Griffins were perfect from the charity stripe, hitting a flawless 23-of-23 from the free throw line, but SUU shot over 50 percent from the field (54.8) for the third time this year in the win.

Southern Utah will resume Summit League play this weekend with road games at IUPUI and Western Illinois.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#32 Caitlyn Sears: G/F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

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

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

#32 Caitlyn Sears
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G/F

Players Mentioned

#23 Cassie Platt

#35 Stephanie Sampson

#32 Caitlyn Sears

Players Mentioned

#23 Cassie Platt

#35 Stephanie Sampson

#32 Caitlyn Sears