The University of Redlands women's basketball team executed late to take down St. Catherine University (MN), 53-50, to cap off the Redlands Tip-Off Classic on Saturday night.
Despite a slow start by both teams to begin the first quarter, the Bulldogs gained traction and built a 15-5 lead through the first 10 minutes of action.
The Wildcats attempted to get over the hump in the second quarter, but each time the deficit was cut to single-digits, the Bulldogs answered with a deep ball to extend their lead. At the 7:33-minute mark sophomore guard Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA) knocked down a trey to make it 18-7, before first-year guard Marisa Urbano-Sedlund (San Diego, CA) hit a three-pointer for a 21-11 lead, and then connected once again to push the Bulldog lead to 28-18 by the 1:31 mark. St. Catherine closed the gap to single-digits again in the final minute, but Downs drained another triple with 13 seconds left to send Redlands into the break with a 31-19 lead.
St. Catherine came out the gate hot in the second half and slimmed its deficit down to 26-31 by 8:08 in the third. Nonetheless, the Bulldogs went on a 6-2 run that was led by junior guard Kellis Dack's (Vancouver, WA) four points, to push the Maroon and Gray lead back to 37-28 nearly midway through the third period.
However, the Wildcats stormed back and came within three points at 34-37 with 1:32 to go in the quarter. First-year guard Alexis Machain (San Diego, CA) slashed to the hoop for a converted and-one for a 40-34 advantage, momentum that the Bulldogs carried into the fourth quarter.
The three-point line continued to be effective for the Maroon and Gray as senior guard Cassandra Lacey (Victorville, CA) stepped back for a triple to increase its margin to 43-36 with 6:51 remaining. A couple minutes later, Lacey found Downs on the right wing for another deep-ball that gave the Bulldogs a 48-38 lead with 4:36 to go.
Over the next three minutes, the Wildcats stepped up their defense and came all the way back to within one at 47-48 with just over a minute left in the game.
With 27 seconds on the clock, first-year guard Angelina Roque (San Diego, CA) drove to the hoop and drew a blocking call. She remained composed and knocked down both of her attempts from the charity stripe to make it 50-47.
Out of a timeout, St. Catherine drew up a play that led to a game-tying three-pointer with 18 seconds of action left.
This time, Redlands executed out of its timeout, as Dack dished the ball to Downs for another go-ahead triple from right in front of the Bulldogs' bench with six seconds on the clock. The Wildcats earned a quality three-point shot from the wing as time expired, but it rimmed out, allowing the Bulldogs to secure the rebound and a 53-50 victory.
Downs paced the Bulldogs with 12 points on a 4-8 clip from beyond the arc. Dack was effective with 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Urbano-Sedlund and Roque tallied six points apiece off the bench. As a team, the Maroon and Gray's extended pressure led to 16 forced turnovers that led to 20 points on the other end.
Redlands (2-0) takes on Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, November 16, for a 2 p.m. game in Currier Gym.
