Weber State women’s basketball efficient on both ends in season-opening rout
Robert Casey, WSU Athletics
OGDEN — Year 2 of the Jenteal Jackson era at Weber State began Monday evening with plenty of positive indicators.
One, for example: no matter the opponent, win or loss, the Wildcats did not make 10 or more 3-pointers once last season. In fact, the last time WSU women’s basketball made double-digit 3s in one game was five years and 142 games ago.
Monday night against Park University, a WSU team with 11 of its 15 players appearing with the program for the first time knocked down 11 of 25 behind the arc through three quarters.
The Wildcats rolled to a 94-41 beating of the visiting Buccaneers at the Dee Events Center.
“Last Saturday (in a scrimmage) … we had a lot of takeaways visually from the film, the areas we could be much better, more efficient in,” Jackson said. “I thought our girls did a really good job taking that to heart, applying it in practice … really amping up the reps, being in the right spots, and it really translated well to this game.”
Robert Casey, WSU Athletics
Sophomore post Taylor Smith got comfortable in the paint and short midrange, scoring eight first-quarter points before senior guard Kaitlin Burgess and junior guard Lanae Billy knocked down a 3-pointer apiece.
Sophomore Japrix Stubbs dished on a pivot to freshman post Mata Peaua for a bucket to lead 31-4 late in the first quarter, 11 of the 12 Wildcats who would take the floor Monday had already seen action and Weber was well on its way to a blowout victory.
Smith scored 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting, adding six rebounds, to lead a group of five double-digit scorers. Peaua totaled 14 points and seven rebounds, Billy had 13 points and Burgess 12 on a combined 7-of-10 from distance, and junior forward Antoniette Emma-Nnopu pitched in 12 points and eight rebounds.
In the middle of it all: senior point guard Rita Satini, playing her first game in 621 days after transferring with Jackson from Westminster. She totaled seven points, four assists and five steals in 27 minutes.
“I had a lot of fun, coming back after a long time of sitting out — especially with this group of girls,” Satini said. “Everyone, they’re so close and our chemistry is really (good).”
WSU’s 12 3-point makes tied for 10th all-time in a single game. Their 36 attempts (the third rotation shot 1 of 11 in the final quarter) tied for second in program history for most 3-point attempts in one game.
Ball movement was another clear indicator Monday evening. Weber State assisted 29 of its 39 field goals and was 34 of 63 (54%) through three quarters.
“We had some really good ball movement,” Satini said. “I think we worked well as a team, just sharing the ball. We didn’t care who got the bucket.”
Kennedy Eskelson totaled eight points and 10 rebounds. Kendra Parra pitched in four assists and six rebounds.
Park University, an NAIA school from Gilbert, Arizona, drew 19 fouls against WSU and shot 12 of 22 from the free-throw line. Alynna Palacios led the Buccaneers with 10 points, drawing seven fouls.
Weber State next plays Thursday at Utah. The Utes start season just out of the national Top 25 and defeated Southern Utah 105-52 on Monday.
“I think we made a really big shift this game, just proved how hard we’ve been working,” Smith said. “I think we’re a very selfless team … and it shows on the court.”