Weber State basketball: Wildcat women control Seattle in road win
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- Weber State forward Rose Bubakar (24) sizes up the floor while Seattle’s Candy Edokpaigbe (23) defends on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Seattle.
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- Weber State guard Kennedy Eskelson (21) handles the basketball against Seattle on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Seattle.
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- Weber State guard Kendra Parra, left, brings the ball up the floor against Seattle on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Seattle.
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- Weber State guards Kendra Parra (3) and Kennedy Eskelson (21) chat during a Seattle free throw on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Seattle.
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- Weber State forward Taylor Smith (20) plays defense near Seattle’s Candy Edokpaigbe on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Seattle.
The only sign Weber State women’s basketball was playing just its second game in a span of 20 days would be the turnover column.
Otherwise, the Wildcats shot it well, defended the ball, and overcame turnovers and Seattle’s full-court pressure to claim a 72-64 road win Saturday afternoon.
Weber State (3-5) got a balanced effort, led by sophomore forward Taylor Smith’s 18 points. Antoniette Emma-Nnopu added 12 points and eight rebounds, Kendra Parra scored 12 points and Rose Bubakar added 10. Dakota Nap and Kennedy Eskelson each scored seven points, with Eskelson’s six assists leading an effort that saw WSU assist 17 of its 22 field goals.
Smith, Bubakar, Parra and Mata Peaua each pulled down five rebounds.
Weber led for 28 minutes to Seattle’s seven, which included the entirety of the first and third quarters. But the Redhawks (2-8) scored the final five points of the third to take a 53-51 lead.
That didn’t last long. Peaua, the WSU freshman forward, scored on a rebound putback, tying the game to open the fourth quarter. Seattle coach Skyler Young — a former three-year WSU assistant — received a technical foul with 7:24 left, and Parra made the freebies.
That was the start of a 14-0 run, a slow burn as the Redhawks struggled to a putrid 2-of-18 shooting mark in the fourth. Parra hit a deep 3 one minute later and Smith added four points. Lanae Billy’s left-wing 3-pointer with 4:33 left capped the run for a 65-53 lead.
The Wildcats shot 7 of 8 from the foul line in the final five minutes to bring home the win.
Weber State shot 9 of 20 from behind the arc and managed more field goal makes (22 to 21) than Seattle despite handing over 25 turnovers and the Redhawks totaling 17 more field goal attempts.
Candy Edokpaigbe led Seattle with 20 points and seven rebounds.
After long layoffs, Weber State is quickly back in action Monday night at Arizona. Then the Wildcats get their first home game in almost six weeks, hosting Utah Valley on Friday, Dec. 20, to start a run of four straight home games.
