The month of February is nearing a close and so is the 2013-2014 SXU Women’s Basketball regular season.
The Cougars put on a show this season going on a mesmerizing 16 game winning streak that started in December and ended on the fifth day of February. It was a showcase of hard work, talent, and skill displayed by the Cougars.
They finished the season on a five game winning streak and overall won 21 out of their last 22 games.
There one lost in those 22 games was a late afternoon home game against conference rival Purdue University Calumet.
SXU roared back after that clunker going right back to their winning ways blowing out Judson University by 34 points on the road.
Robert Morris University found out days later that they were equally no match for the Cougars getting beat by the final score of 90-62. RMU had no answer for a SXU team that shot 59 percent in the first half.
Junior forward Morgan Stuut turned in a dominating performance finishing with 29 points and 18 rebounds.
Stuut already has paw prints in the Cougar sports record books and on this day she added another during her performance by snatching her 1,000th career rebound.
Junior guard Suzie Broski finished with 20 points and six rebounds while senior guard Jordan Brandt ended up with 15 points and grabbed three steals to lead the team.
Sophmore forward Caitlin McMahon chipped in nine points and pulled down 15 more rebounds for the Cougars.
SXU completely controlled the boards out rebounding RMU 60-42 for the game.
The team continued their tour of delightfully dominating destruction on the road against Trinity International University (Ill.).
Lock down defense and sticky paws led the Cougars to an easy 94-50 victory over the Trojans.
SXU had sticky paws in this game gathering 17 steals and finishing the game with 39 points off of Trojan turnovers.
Stuut had the stickiest paws out of everyone finishing with five steals to go along with 22 points and 11 rebounds in 32 minutes of action.
Broski was the only other player for SXU to finish with double digit points recording 12 points on the evening. It was a total team effort offensively as every player for the Cougars did score at least a basket.
SXU played great defense by not only forcing all the turnovers but by also holding the Trojans to just 32 percent shooting for the game and only 8 made field goals in the second half.
After the team was done with another drubbing their final home game loomed against Roosevelt University and what made the night special was saying good bye to five classy and gifted seniors that will be missed by their teammates, coaches, and of course the SXU fans.
Jordan Brandt, fellow senior guard Niara Harris, senior forward Chrissy Heine, her frontcourt mate senior forward Dana Sibley, and senior student assistant Ashley Reeves were all honored before the game to celebrate their wonderful careers at SXU.
When the touching festivities were finished the game got underway and the Roosevelt University Lakers came to spoil the party.
They almost succeeded with the grit and toughness they showed on the road on this night.
It was hard fought throughout as the Lakers pushed the Cougars hard but SXU prevailed 64-56 on this special night in front of a pumped up crowd.
Even the Lakers could not spoil the truly special moment of all four senior players ending the game on the court at the same time in front of the home crowd.
Stuut led the team with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and four block shots in what was not an easy victory for the Cougars.
She belled the team out on a few occasions with big time buckets when the shot clock was running down.
The Lakers would not let the Cougars pull away even after they fell behind by seven at halftime by the score of 29-22. In fact SXU led by as many as 14 points in the second half but Roosevelt would not go away.
The Lakers got as close as six points, 56-50, with about minute and a half left on the game clock but they could not score the crucial baskets they needed.
SXU showed resiliency in what was not their best effort but held on to the win by knocking down their free throw shots at the end.
No. 5 ranked SXU played their last game of the regular season on the road against Trinity Christian College.
The Cougars again relied on their tenacious defense forcing 28 turnovers and holding Trinity Christian to 30 percent shooting to win the game 61-43.
SXU had shooting woes early on but were able to hold Trinity Christian to seven made field goals in the first half and eventually built a 30-15 halftime lead.
Broski had 14 points while Stuut had 16 points and seven rebounds on the afternoon.
The senior Brandt finished with 11 points in her final regular season game.
SXU finished the season with 26-4 record overall and a 16-2 conference record as they prepare to enter the CCAC Tournament.
The first game for the Cougars will be at home on Wed., Feb. 26 against either University of St. Francis or Calumet College of St Joseph. Come out and support the Cougars.
Damone Griffin
Sports Editor
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