SEATTLE – The missed free throws caught up with the Seattle Pacific Falcons on Saturday afternoon.
 
So did Stanislaus State …
 
… at the buzzer.
 
Liliana Marques launched a 12-foot jumper from the right side of the hoop that nestled into the net as the final horn sounded, giving the Warriors a 63-62 victory in the non-conference women's basketball finale for the Falcons.
 
Marques' shot capped a 17-5 Stanislaus run through the final 8 minutes, 23 seconds of the game in Brougham Pavilion, wiping out a 57-46 SPU lead.
 
During that time, the Warriors (4-7) hit 7 of 15 overall from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range.
 
SPU (6-4) hit just one of its last six shots from the floor, and was 2 of 5 from the free throw line during the fourth quarter – part of a beyond-frosty 11 of 26 performance (42.3 percent) at the line: 1 of 4 during the first quarter, 5 of 7 during the second and just 3 of 10 during the third.
 
 

"The game was interesting – it had huge momentum runs for them and for us," SPU head coach Mike Simonson said. "There were times when we were clicking on all cylinder and times when we were not. The deciding factor was the free throw line, because if we make free throws, I betcha it really puts the brakes on a lot of their runs, and I betcha we would have been able to put them away.
 
"But that's how it crumbles. We'll shoot a lot of free throws before the next game, I can promise you that."
 
Natalie Hoff led the Falcons (6-4) with 16 points, the last of which was the second of two free throws with 10.5 seconds to play. She also grabbed seven rebounds, including the 500th of her career.
 
 

Sophomore guard Anna Eddy recorded a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds – the first of her career and SPU's first of the season.
 
Makayla Rose poured in 21 points for Stanislaus State. That included a 3-pointer with 1:05 left to bring the Warriors within two at 61-59, and a game-tying turnaround shot from directly in front of the hoop with 13.4 to play.
 
That final foul shot by Hoff gave Seattle Pacific a 62-61 lead with 10.5 seconds left. Stanislaus State was out of timeouts, so brought the ball downcourt. Marques' shot was on its downward arc and went through as the buzzer sounded. The officials did review it just to make sure, but the shot was undeniably good, and they needed just a few seconds to confirm it. Marques finished with seven points.
 
BOTH TEAMS RESPONDED
There were multiple occasions when the Falcons seemed ready to take charge of things, only to see the Warriors answer every time.
 
-- In the first quarter, SPU went on a 9-0 run, turning a 6-6 tie into a 15-6 lead. Stanislaus finished the quarter with a 13-4 surge to tie it, 19-19.
-- The Warriors kept that going into the second quarter, building a 25-21 edge. The Falcons responded with a 14-3 scoring burst to take a 35-28 lead into halftime.
-- A 3-pointer by Ashley Alter and a Hoff lay-in from an Alter assist at the outset of the third gave Seattle Pacific its biggest lead of the night at 40-28. But by the end of that period, Stanislaus State had gone on an 18-9 tear to get within three at 49-46 entering the fourth quarter.
 
"We knew coming in that they were a strong team in region," Simonson said. "It felt like a conference game, which was great. (The outcome) was a bummer  because we did have one of our better offensive games as a whole. Obviously, we didn't make free throws, but we executed very well, we got a lot of good shots.
 
"If you look at the stat sheet, other than free throws, almost everything you would check would say an SPU win," Simonson added. "We let it slip through our hands, so it's back to the drawing board.`
 
It wasn't how the Falcons wanted to enter their holiday break. Simonson is giving then a couple of extra days, and the NCAA D2-mandated seven-day downtime runs from Dec. 20-26. The team will return to practice on Dec. 27.
 
"The coach in me wants to get back out there right this second, because honestly, we need to work on some things before conference play," Simonson said. "But we're a good basketball team, and this loss does not define us. We can do some damage in conference play.
 
"It's a bummer because this one should sting, and unfortunately for us coaches and our team, it's going to sting for about 10 days."
 
BY THE NUMBERS
-- Saturday's outcome halted a three-game Seattle Pacific winning streak.
-- The Falcons finished 5-3 in non-conference play.
-- These two teams went down to the wire last year on Stan State's homecourt in Turlock, Calif. The Warriors prevailed, 57-55.
-- Natalie Hoff's 500th rebound was at the offensive end of the court. She came into the day with 496 and how has 503 for her career – 368 defensive, 135 offensive.
-- Anna Eddy tied her career high with 10 rebounds. She also grabbed 10 on Nov. 25 against Regis.
-- The Falcons had a 35-31 edge on the boards..
-- The free throw woes weren't limited to the Falcons. Stanislaus State was just 5 of 11.
 
UP NEXT
The Falcons will be off for Christmas break, then will shift their focus entire to Great Northwest Athletic Conference play beginning with a visit from Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, Dec. 29 at 7:30 p.m. That will be the second half of a doubleheader. The Seattle Pacific men tangle with  NNU at 5:15 p.m.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.
 
Stanislaus State 63, Seattle Pacific 62
 
STANISLAUS STATE (4-7)
Marques 3-13 0-2 7, Moa 1-3 0-0 2, Lewis 0-4 2-2 2, Richardson 1-1 0-0 2, Rose 8-18 2-4 21, Woodson 0-1 1-2 1, Addison 0-0 0-0 0, Hornung 3-4 0-1 6, Patterson 3-4 0-0 8, Sran 5-9 0-0 14. Totals 24-57 5-11 63.Or
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (6-4)
Beirne 3-8 0-0 7, Eddy 4-10 3-7 12, Alter 5-13 2-4 15, N. Hoff 6-9 3-4 16, Berry 2-5 0-2 4, Weatherspoon 0-0 0-0 0, De Virgilo 1-3 0-0 3, M. Hoff 1-4 3-9 5.  Totals 22-52 11-26 62.
 
Stanislaus State   19            9             18           17           -- 63
Seattle Pacific      19           16             14           13           -- 62
 
3-point goals – Stan 10-22 (Marques 1-6, Moa 0-1, Rose 3-7, Woodson 0-1, Patterson 2-2, Sran 4-5), SPU 7-16 (Beirne 1-2, Eddy 1-4, Alter 3-6, N. Hoff 1-1, De Virgilio 1-3).  Fouled out – None.  Rebounds – Stan 31 (Moa 6, Rose 6), SPU 35 (Eddy 10).  Assists – Stan 14 (Marques 3, Lewis 3), SPU 14 (Beirne 4, Alter 4).  Turnovers – Stan 13, SPU 15.  Total fouls – Stan 27, SPU 17.  Technical fouls – None.  Attendance – NA.
 
 
Next game
Northwest Nazarene at Seattle Pacific
Thursday, Dec. 29    7:30 p.m.
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.