BELLINGHAM, Wa.—Gus Balogh dropped in a game high 22 points and had seven rebounds but it was not enough to stop defending Pacific West Conference Champion Western Washington, as the Vikings downed Seattle Pacific 78-75 in a women’s basketball game Saturday night at Carver Gym.

Seattle Pacific jumped out to an early 12-2 lead as Balogh (Sr., Szombathely, Hungary) scored the 10 of the Falcons’ first 14 points but the Vikings stormed back behind a pair of short jumpers by Megan Quarterman.

Quarterman sparked the Vikings in the first half with 13 points off the bench. Western went into the locker room with a 36-32 advantage at intermission.

The Falcons tied the game at 43-43 with 14 minutes to play in the second half as Brianne Prescott (Jr., San Jose, Ca., Mitty/San Jose CC) subbed in for an injured Kristin Poe (So., Enumclaw, Wa.) and promptly nailed a trey from deep on the right side.

SPU went up 54-51 via another Prescott three-pointer with 9:14 to play, and Seattle Pacific expanded its lead to nine points before a Viking comeback ended in a pair of Julie Walker free-throws, knotting the game at 69-69 with 1:33 left to play.

Western went up 71-69 with 1:14 to play as Valerie Gustafson (Fr., Black Hills, Wa.) fouled Jennifer McGillivray on a made basket. McGillivray hit her free-throw to give Western a 72-69 lead with just under a minute left.

The Vikings looked to run away with the game, but Liz Guppy (Sr., Beaverton, Or./Westview) was fouled on a made lay-in with :42 to play. The senior center nailed a free-throw to bring the Falcons within two, 72-74.

Seattle Pacific fouled Tessa DeBoer with 14 seconds left and the freshman hit both free-throws to give Western its final lead.

Balogh led all scores with 22 points on 10 of 19 shooting.

Stacey Miller paced Western with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Prescott added points 18 points, all from behind the arc for SPU and Guppy finished with 12.

Seattle Pacific (2-1, 5-1) meets up with Western Washington for round two, next Saturday night in Seattle. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00.

RESULTS: WWU 78, SPU 75

SEATTLE PACIFIC:
Poe 5, Balogh 22, Gustafson 2, Hughes 5, Urrutia 4, Beard, Prescott 18, Lukkes 2, Holme 5. Guppy 12.

WESTERN WASHINGTON:
Lovely 10, Miller 16, McGillivray 15, Walker 9, Kaczor 4, DeBoer 8, Quarterman 14, Swanson 2.