LAS VEGAS – Seattle's dream of an automatic NCAA tournament berth kept slipping away late in the second half against Idaho in Saturday's Western Athletic Conference title game.
But after trailing by eight with just over a minute left, the Redhawks had one miraculous and last possession to force overtime.
Top-seeded Seattle misfired on two desperation 3-pointers in the final seconds, one by Sylvia Shephard and one by Daidra Brown, and went home without a tournament title, losing 67-64 to third-seeded Idaho.
After Seattle built a five-point lead with 11 minutes left, nothing went right — and not even conference player of the year Kacie Sowell, who had 17 points and 15 rebounds, could save the Redhawks.
"Disappointing loss for us. Give credit to Idaho," Seattle coach Joan Bonvicini, the conference's Coach of the Year. "(Idaho) hit some early 3s and put us down early. We had every opportunity to win this game. We have to use it as fuel for the next game."
The next game will likely be in the Women's NIT, where Seattle should get a bid.
The Redhawks' lead went away after Idaho's Stacey Barr, the conference's most valuable player, converted a jumper with 4:47 left, putting the Vandals up 51-50. Barr finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
"I could have been a little smarter inside," said Sowell, who made the all-tournament team. "We can look at all the mistakes, but we have to look forward."
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