Jan. 8, 2004
Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Forward Kristin Poe scored a game-high 23 points, 16 in the first half, and reserve guard Mandy Wood had 17, 14 in the second half on 4-of-5 3-point shooting, as nationally ranked Seattle Pacific University held off Western Washington University, 80-71, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game Thursday at Royal Brougham Pavilion.
The Vikings, who dropped to 9-3 overall and 2-1 league, had four players score in double figures, led by the 14 of guard Kelly Colard (Jr., Elma). Forward Tessa DeBoer (Sr., Lynden/Lynden Christian) had 13, forward Tina Donahue (So., Stanwood) 12 and center Krystal Robinson (Fr., Kent/Kentridge) added 11 off the bench.
Seattle Pacific, rated No.8 in the latest USA Today/Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II Top 25, remained unbeaten in 11 games this season and 2-0 in league play. The defending league champion Falcons have won 44 straight regular-season contests, their last loss being to Western, 102-87, at Bellingham on Feb. 7, 2002.
"I was so proud of my team," said Western coach Sara Nichols. "They did a great job of seeing what was open, and I was impressed with out intensity and defense."
Forward Valerie Gustafson scored 14 points for Seattle Pacific. Reserve Carli Smith had nine rebounds for the Falcons, who had a 43-33 edge on the boards. Poe had eight rebounds and Gustafson and Jenny Poe seven each.
Trailing by nine points, 69-60, with 4:34 remaining, Western pulled to within four, 71-67, with 1:55 to go. Seattle Pacific scored the next five points to go ahead by nine, 76-67, at 0:30, and the Vikings never got closer than seven after that.
Western opened the second half with an 11-1 run over the first four minutes to lead by six points, 42-36. The Falcons responded by scoring 17 of the next 23 points for a 55-50 advantage with 9:15 remaining.
The Vikings began the game with a 9-2 run. Seattle Pacific then went on a 14-2 charge for a 16-11 lead with 8:44 left in the period and led by three points, 34-31, at halftime.
Donahue had a team-high nine rebounds for Western, and Colard dished out six assists. Robinson had her best offensive game of the season, hitting 4-of-4 field goals and 3-of-4 at the free throw line.
The Vikings travel to arch-rival Central Washington (7-4, 1-1)on Saturday (5 p.m.) for a league counter.
