WBB: Defending Champs Fight Through Adversity in 2023-24
WBB: Defending Champs Fight Through Adversity in 2023-24
A shorthanded Thunderbirds team fought their way to the WAC tournament before falling in a first round game against UT Arlington
After winning the WAC regular season and tournament titles in 2022-23, the Southern Utah women’s basketball team had some high expectations heading into 2023-24.
Megan Smith was back. Tomekia Whitman was back. Daylani Ballena and Samantha Johnston were back. Tracy Mason added Utah Valley transfer Jaeden Brown in the offseason.
The T-Birds were ready to defend their title.
However, things didn’t go as expected. That is the usual case for most teams. But, for Southern Utah, it was even more so.
The T-Birds were 3-8 at Christmas Break and in every game except their matchup against Utah.
In that opening stretch, Southern Utah had narrow losses to an NCAA tournament team in Eastern Washington (Big Sky Champions) by nine and Texas A&M Commerce (Southland Tournament semifinalist) by six.
However, the injury bug hit Southern Utah.
Well, technically it got much tougher. Jaeden Brown did not play a minute in 2023-24 as she found out in the Summer prior to the season she was pregnant with her first child all while dealing with a foot injury sustained at Utah Valley.
Along with that, Tomekia Whitman left the program and didn’t play a minute for the T-Birds in 2023-24.
Boom, three of your top-4 players all out or not with the program anymore.
That doesn’t bode well.
Then, early in non-conference play, Megan Smith, Southern Utah’s 6’3” graduate center, tore her ACL and missed the remainder of the season.
Smith played in 11 games, and was averaging a team-high 16.2 points per game. She had 30 points in a win against Alaska-Fairbanks. Smith also went for 26 points in the T-Birds loss to Utah.
In 2022-23, Smith was third on the team in scoring after transferring from Utah Valley. She started in 32 of 33 games, averaged 11.3 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds in helping lead the T-Birds to a WAC title and first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
Despite the loss of their team leader, the Thunderbirds kept fighting.
Samantha Johnston’s block in the final seconds preserved an 82-80 win over Abilene Christian on January 27 on a night where Ava Uhrich had a career-high 25 points.
Then six days later at Edinburgh, the Thunderbirds needed overtime to get through former WAC member UTRGV.
On a night where Uhrich struggled, it was Ashley Banks and Alexa Lord combining for 25 points and 17 rebounds to give SUU a much needed win.
There was also a double overtime win at Utah Valley on Feb. 17 that earned the T-Birds a season sweep over their Northern Utah rivals.
After blowing a 28-point lead to Stephen F. Austin on Thursday in the final week of WAC play, the Thunderbirds closed out regular season play with another win over the Vaqueros to preserve their WAC tournament spot.
Despite the injuries and losing All-WAC performers Cherita Daugherty and Lizzy Williamson, Tracy Mason had some bright spots.
Freshman Ava Uhrich started 28 of 30 games, and averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds. 6-5 sophomore Ashley Banks was also a key contributor while averaging nearly 22 minutes per game.
And both Daylani Ballena and Sam Johnston were their usual reliable selves.
Uhrich was named an All-WAC Freshman Team selection in her first season in Cedar City, while Daylani Ballena earned All-WAC Second Team honors.
Sometimes injuries will hinder a team. Other times, they can be a blessing in disguise.
With both Megan Smith and Jaeden Brown sidelined, Ava Uhrich got quality experience at the Division I level, starting 28 of 30 games in her first season of college basketball. Ashley Banks, as noted above, got quality minutes, as well. JUCO transfer Shiho Isono and freshman guard Charli Kay also averaged between 19 and 20 minute for Tracy Mason’s squad.
If there is one thing to say, especially with Jaeden Brown set to take the floor for the T-Birds in 2023-24, Tracy Mason has a very experienced squad returning in what could be a big bounce back season for the T-Birds.