Nov. 14, 2003

Box Score

Salt Lake City, Utah - In their season opener, Southeast (0-1) dropped a very close, competitive match-up to the No. 19 ranked Utah Utes (1-0) in the Pre-season Women's National Invitational Tournament. The squad was right in the game at the half as they headed to the locker room with Utah leading 37-36, but fell behind in last seven minutes of the game to finish 65-76.

Southeast came out strong, as Costello put the Otahkians on the board first one minute into the game. Utah answered back quickly with a two-pointer of their own. The entire first half both teams struggled for the lead, as the lead flipped back and forth seven times. With the half winding down Utah led 37-34 as Southeast point guard Sarah Costello drove the lane for the easy lay-up to put the squad within one at the half.

Point-guards Sarah Costello and Jessica Aebi led the team in the first half as they had eight points a piece. Brandi Russia added to the early offensive attack as she dished out for four assists.

The squad was fired-up as they came back out to the court. Senior Yashika Sidbury played stellar defense as she had two back-to-back steals. Off the first steal she set-up teammate Kenja White for the one-on-one fast break. White took it the hole, but was fouled on the play. From the line she drained both free throws to put Southeast up 38-37. On the next steal Southeast set-up the offense and it was Yashika Sidbury from downtown to capture a four-point lead.

In the eighth minute it was Kenja White with the one-on-one break away to tie the game 60 a piece. The game was neck-in-neck until Utah pulled away in the seventh minute unanswered 11-point run to break open the game. Southeast was unable to recover, as the final was 76-65 Utah.

Southeast shot a perfect 100 percent from the free throw line as they made 6 of 6, but the squad didn't get many chances from the line. Southeast out fouled Utah 21 to 8 on the game giving Utah 16 free shots from the line. The speedy squad got beat on the boards as Utah out rebounded Southeast 33 to 25, recording 25 points on second chance shots.

Leading the offensive attack for the Otahkians was freshman point guard Jessica Aebi as she lit up for two three-pointers and five field goals, scoring twelve points. Senior Kenja White followed directly behind with eleven points. The rest of the scoring was spread around as four Otahkians, forward Carina Souza, senior Yashika Sidbury, senior Sarah Costello, and junior Chandra Brown, all drained eight points. Junior Brandi Russia led the team in assists as she recorded five.

Southeast will be back in action next Friday, November 21, for their home opener. The Otahkians host Southern Illinois-Carbondale at 6:00 p.m. at the Show Me Center.