CEDAR CITY - Who said that freshmen don't have an impact on a collegiate basketball program?
During the Southern Utah women's 52-49 Summit League victory over Oral Roberts at the Centrum Arena on Saturday night, the Thunderbirds (2-6 Summit League, 4-15 overall) put on a display of freshmen, all of which T-Birds coach Steve Hodson touted as the "real deal."
Following freshman Jamie Sagers' two 3-pointers that sparked the Thunderbirds' 9-0 run late in the first half, fellow freshman Caitlyn Sears opened the second half with three jumpers -including a 3-pointer - and added four late foul shots for all of her team-high 11 points. Freshman forward Challis Pascucci also scored 11 points and freshman guard Kaila Goff made 3-of-4 free throws in the final minutes to help cement the win.
"It feels great," Sears said. "I hope I gave them confidence; coming out to do whatever I could."
Hodson beamed at the contributions of his young players.
"(Sears') second half spoke volumes to where she can get as a player," Hodson said. "In pressure situations, we have freshman knocking down free throws. When we got down 11 (points), we kept battling and got two huge 3s from Sagers."
Mariana Camargo's score inside with 5:20 left gave Oral Roberts (4-4, 10-9) a 24-13 lead. However, the T-Birds scored the final nine points of the half to close within 24-22. Erin Heuett's jumper got the T-Birds rolling. Junior Hailee Truman sandwiched a foul shot between Sagers' 3-pointers during the run.
Sears then scored SUU's first seven points of the second half as the T-Birds pulled even at 29-29, took a 31-29 lead on Aubrey Mackintosh's foul-line jumper just over four minutes into the second half and began to take command, extending their run to 24-6 and to a 37-30 lead on another jumper by Mackintosh, who finished with 10 points.
Goff's free throws and Pascucci's layup gave the T-Birds their big lead, 48-38, inside of two minutes remaining.
Kelly Kindell hit two 3-pointers and Janae Voelker hit another to draw ORU within 50-47, a comeback that Sears thwarted with four-straight foul shots.
Playing a leading role in a conference victory was gratifying for Sears.
"Going out doing stuff for my team and what my coach asks me to do," Sears said. "We always strive for perfection. Sometimes we forget, but as teammates we all help and remind each other anyway we can."
Added Hodson: "Good teams find a way to win. I liked our mental toughness. You hit shots and make foul shots down the stretch, you'll find a way to win."
