by By Austin Byrnes SMU
ST. GEORGE, Utah – A fourth quarter offensive explosion by freshman guard Janealle Sutterlict, (Yakama Nation) including a pair of clutch 3-pointers, pulled Saint Martin’s within one point of Dixie State in the final seconds. Saint Martin’s game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer was blocked to end the comeback attempt for SMU, 74-71, on the road Saturday afternoon.
Dixie State jumped out to an early 7-2 lead with two 3-pointers in the opening quarter. Saint Martin’s responded with 10 straight points to take the lead back. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Sutterlict and Mallory Vivola capped off the Saints’ 16-4 run, and SMU went into the quarter break with an 18-16 lead.
Saint Martin’s managed to extend their lead to five twice during the second quarter; however, Dixie State continued to hang with SMU. The Trailblazers tied the score at 25-25 before Vivola answered back with a 3-pointer, and a layup to give Saint Martin’s the 30-29 lead into the halftime. Sutterlict led the team with nine points, while Vivola stepped up with eight, and Bria Thames added six points, and six boards in the first half.
Both sides traded baskets and the lead back and forth throughout a majority of the third quarter. Dixie State found late quarter offense in Madi Loftus, who scored 11 points in the final four minutes to lift the Trailblazers to a 52-47 lead into the final quarter of action.
A quick and-one for Dixie State found the Saints trailing by eight in the fourth quarter, their largest deficit of the afternoon. However, the game was far from over as Sutterlict began to catch fire. Scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter alone, including a couple of clutch three’s down the stretch, the Saints trailed Dixie State 72-71 with only nine seconds left.
After a pair of free throws for the Trailblazers, the Saints had an opportunity to tie the game. Sutterlict was unable to get open on the inbounds pass, leaving the ball for Makenna Schultz. Schultz’s game-tying three attempt was block at the top of the arc, securing the 74-71 victory for Dixie State.
Sutterlict set a season-high 25 points, along with six rebounds, and was 5-for-10 beyond the arc. Vivola came off the bench with a season-high 19 points, and 4-for-7 3-point shooting. Claire Dingus, who fouled out on a controversial call, ended with 11 points and three boards. Bria Thames led the team with 10 rebounds, along with eight points.
As a team, Saint Martin’s shot 27-for-64 (42.2 percent) from the floor, 10-for-28 (35.7 percent) beyond the arc, and 7-for-9 (77.8 percent) at the free throw line. SMU grabbed 38 rebounds, along with 13 assists on nine turnovers, and three steals.
Saint Martin’s returns home on Sunday, December 1 for a 3:00 p.m. game against Texas A&M International. Live stats and video of the game will be available on smusaints.com.
