Box score, play-by-play (HTML)
 
LACEY, Wash. – The Falcon from Down Under went way over on Tuesday night.
 
Way over her career high, that is.
 
Riley Evans poured in 20 points and was one of four players in double figures as Seattle Pacific beat Saint Martin's in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game, 94-76.
 
The score in Marcus Pavilion was the most SPU (15-3, 9-2 GNAC) has put on the board this season, and also was the most for one of its opponents.
 
Evans, a junior from Terrigal, New South Wales in Australia who can play guard or forward, notched a career high for the third straight game. She had nine in last Thursday's 86-54 rout of Alaska Fairbanks, then went for 13 in Saturday's 66-48 victory against then-No. 4 Alaska Anchorage.
 
On Tuesday, she tied that career high on a 3-pointer from the right corner with 4:33 left in the third quarter, giving SPU its first 30-point lead of the night at 66-36. She then went past that on a trey from the top of the key at the 3:04 mark.
 
The only thing left to do on this night was get to 20, and Evans did that on a lay-in with 42.5 seconds left in the game.
 
 
 
 
 
"The ball felt good coming off my hand," said Evans, who hit 7 of 11 from the floor, including 4 of 5 from behind the 3-point arc. "We talked at halftime about not shooting as many outside shots and try to attack the ring a bit more. I tried to do that as well as shoot the 3, and it seemed to work. I'm just happy our team could get a win tonight."
 
Evans played in just three games last season due to injuries. But now, she is finding consistent playing time in the Seattle Pacific rotation.

 

"We knew Riley could do it – give her credit for persevering," head coach Julie Heisey said. "She has been a difference-maker for us. We've seen the moments in practice. She has been pretty steady, and her defense is getting better. She has an amazing shot and she took good shots tonight."
 
The Falcons, who had trailed just once in their previous five games, found themselves down 6-0 and 12-6 with less than four minutes gone. But an 11-0 run put them up 17-12. By the end of the first quarter, they had doubled up on the Saints, 30-15. Heading into halftime, the margin had grown to 22 at 53-31.
 
"Give them credit – they came out and shot the ball well," Heisey said of the Saints (6-13, 2-9 GNAC), who hit their first five shots. "This was a good night for us, because we had a lot of positives, and we got a win. But it also shows us some things we can get better at."
 
Senior guard Jordan McPhee added 16 points for SPU. Fellow seniors Rachel Shim and Erica Pagano had 10 each. McPhee also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Makenna Schultz came off the bench to score 33 points for Saint Martin's.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-- This was Seattle Pacific's highest score – and first time in the 90s – since a 98-57 win at Montana State Billings last Feb. 4. The previous high this season was 87 at Western Oregon on Dec. 2. The previous high allowed was 75 to Oklahoma Christian on Dec. 18
-- SPU shot better than 50 percent for the first time this season, hitting 51.6 (32 of 62).
-- That included 52.4 percent from 3-point range (11 of 21). Counting last Saturday's 9 of 20 against Alaska Anchorage, that makes it 20 of 41 (.488) the past two games.
-- The Falcons also were solid at the free throw line, draining 19 of 21 for 90.5 percent. That was their third time in the 90s this season.
-- Fifth-year senior guard Rachel Shim handed out a career-high seven assists. Her previous best was five.
 
UP NEXT
Seattle Pacific plays the second game of a four-game road trip on Saturday at Montana State Billings, tipping off at 6:00 p.m. PST. This will be the second meeting between the teams this season. The Falcons scored a 70-61 victory on Dec. 28 in Brougham Pavilion.

 
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018
Marcus Pavilion / Lacey, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific 94, Saint Martin's 76
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (15-3, 9-2 GNAC)
Rachel Shim 4-9 2-2 10, Jordan McPhee 5-10 6-7 16, Courtney Hollander 3-8 1-2 9, Lindsay Lee 3-6 0-0 9, Erica Pagano 4-5 2-2 10, Riley Evans 7-11 2-2 20, Jaylee Albert 3-4 0-0 8, Hailee Bennett 0-0 4-4 4, Carly Rataushk 3-9 2-2 8. Totals 32-62 19-21 94.
 
SAINT MARTIN'S (6-13, 2-9 GNAC)
Saniah Simpson-Patu 6-16 3-6 15, Emma Kennedy 1-1 1-2 3, Rebakah Baugh 1-2 0-0 2, Mercedes Victor 7-8 0-0 14, Jayla Russ 3-9 2-5 9, Hannah Reynolds 0-2 0-00, Makenna Schultz 9-12 9-10 33, Marissa Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Shyler Sullivan 0-2 0-0 0, Sara Bowen 0-1 0-0 0, Lauren Liindley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-53 15-23 76.
 
Seattle Pacific     30           23           27           14           -- 94
Saint Martin's      15           16           19           26            -- 76
 
3-point goals – SPU 11-21 (Shim 0-3, McPhee 0-1, Hollander 2-3, Lee 3-6, Evans 4-5, Albert 2-3), STM 7-19 (Simpson-Patu 0-1, Baugh 0-1, Victor 0-1, Russ 1-6, Reynolds 0-2, Schultz 6-7, Bowen 0-1). Fouled out – SPU: Albert. Rebounds – SPU 30 (McPhee 7), STM 26 (Russ 7). Assists – SPU 22 (Shim 7), STM 14 (Simpson-Patu 5). Turnovers – SPU 12, STM 16. Total fouls – SPU 17, STM 16. Technical fouls – None. Attendance – 204.
 
 
Next game
Seattle Pacific at Montana State Billings
Saturday, 6:00 p.m. PST
Alterowitz Gymnasium / Billings, Mont.