Complete Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wa. (Dec. 31) – Viking forwards Tina Donahue and Kelly Dykstra each scored a game-high 19 points to lead host Western Washington past Seattle Pacific 82-71 in a New Year’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s basketball pairing between national powers at Sam Carver Gymnasium.

It was just the second loss in the past 62 GNAC games for 14th-ranked Seattle Pacific (1-1 GNAC, 7-4). The Vikings (2-0 GNAC, 9-1), ranked No. 7 in NCAA II, snapped a seven-game losing streak against SPU.

In an uncharacteristic first half, the Falcons shot just 29 percent and mustered a mere 27 points at the intermission. The Vikings took full advantage by jumping out to a 20-5 lead just 5:30 into the contest and maintained a double-digit lead until the final five minutes.

Western, which built its lead to 18 points with a minute left in the first half, led by 16 at the break, and jumped out to a 26-point lead with just under 15 minutes left to play. The Vikings held on to a 25-point lead with 12 minutes remaining but the Falcons, two-time defending regional champions, came storming back.

The Falcons scored 13 unanswered points to cut the deficit in half and pulled to within eight on a jumper by Jenny Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.) with 4:36 left to play. The Vikings were held to just one field goal the rest of the way, but went 8-for-10 from the free-throw line to seal the victory.

Poe finished with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists in the loss. Mandy Wood (Sr., 5-8, Port Angeles, Wa.) was the only other SPU player to score in double figures, finishing with 13 points and three assists. Beth Christensen (So., 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) added nine points and five assists, and Rachel Strand (Jr., 6-0, Shoreline, Wa./King’s) chipped in with eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds in 19 minutes off the bench.

WWU’s Mollie Stelmack had 17 points and four assists in the win. Courtney Clapp was also in double figures with 10 points.

The Falcons shot 54 percent during their second half comeback to finish at 42 percent for the game. Western shot 43 percent in the contest, but accomplished a rare feat of outshooting SPU from long range. The Vikings were 10-for-21 (48 percent) from behind the arc, while the Falcons went just 3-for-17 (18 percent).

The Vikings also finished 20-for-28 from the free-throw line as the Falcons were whistled for 24 fouls. SPU went 10-for-15 from the foul line.

The Falcons host Saint Martin’s in a GNAC game Thursday (Jan. 5) at 7:00 p.m.

#7 WESTERN WASHINGTON 82, #14 SEATTLE PACIFIC 71
SEATTLE PACIFIC (7-4,1-1) Wood,Mandy 5-12 3-4 13; Poe,Jenny 3-8 6-9 13; Christensen,Beth 4-7 0-0 9; Strand,Rachel 4-6 0-0 8; Kroon,Brittney 4-7 0-0 8; Fielding,Autumn 3-8 1-2 7; Hill,Kelsey 3-5 0-0 6; Menkens,Jessie 1-2 0-0 3; Hollands,Jackie 1-6 0-0 2; Grant,Carli 1-8 0-0 2. Totals 29-69 10-15 71.
WESTERN WASHINGTON (9-1,2-0) Donahue,Tina 6-10 4-6 19; Dykstra,Kelly 8-12 0-2 19; Stelmack,Mollie 3 10 9-12 17; Clapp,Courtney 4-9 2-2 10; Hubbard,Samantha 2-4 0-0 5; Pallansch,Claire 2-6 1-2 5; Hartman,Elyse 0-1 4-4 4; McCarrell,Liz 1-5 0-0 3; Cabe,Willow 0-2 0-0 0; Dressel,Stephanie 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-60 20-28 82.

Seattle Pacific............... 27 44 - 71 
Western Washington............ 43 39 - 82

3-point goals-Seattle Pacific 3-17 (Menkens,Jessie 1-2; Poe,Jenny 1-2; Christensen,Beth 1-2; Fielding,Autumn 0-2; Hollands,Jackie 0-4; Wood,Mandy 0-5), Western Washington 10-21 (Dykstra,Kelly 3-7; Donahue,Tina 3-4; Stelmack,Mollie 2-4; McCarrell,Liz 1-2; Hubbard,Samantha 1-2; Clapp,Courtney 0-2). Fouled out--Seattle Pacific None, Western Washington-Dykstra,Kelly. Rebounds-Seattle Pacific 37 (Strand,Rachel 10), Western Washington 43 (Hubbard,Samantha 9; Pallansch,Claire 9). Assists-Seattle Pacific 20 (Christensen,Beth 5), Western Washington 19 (Hubbard,Samantha 5). Total fouls-Seattle Pacific 24, Western Washington 16. A-748.