Dec. 20, 2005
Box Score
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Shooting a season-low 38.7 percent (24-of-62) from the field and having a season-high 27 turnovers, nationally ranked Western Washington University fell 75-56 to host Cal State Bakersfield in first-day action Tuesday at the California Collegiate Athletic Association/Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Challenge Classic at the Icardo Center.
It was the first loss of the season for Western, ranked No.7 in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Top 25, which dropped to 6-1. The Vikings were led by center Courtney Clapp (Sr., Kirkland/Juanita/Santa Rosa CC), who had a team-high 26 points on 12-of-18 floor accuracy and 11 rebounds. Reserve forward Claire Pallansch (R-Fr., Redmond/Oregon State) grabbed a game and career-high 16 rebounds for Western.
Cal State Bakersfield, which improved to 6-1, was led by the guard tandem of Katie McElree and Kelley Tarver, who combined for 48 points. McElree had a game-high 27 points on 10-of-14 field goal shooting, hitting all three of her 3-pointers and making all four of her free throws. Tarver had 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Roadrunners.
Cal State Bakersfield outscored the Vikings, 21-7, over a stretch of nearly six minutes to take a 38-21 lead with 2:53 left in the first half. The Roadrunners, who led 42-25 at halftime, scored 14 points off 11 Western turnovers and had a 20-10 advantage on points in the paint during the opening period.
The closest Western got after that was 12 points, 42-30, 1:04 into the second half. The Roadrunners' biggest lead was 19 points on two occasions - 49-30 with 15:55 remaining and the final margin.
Tarver had 15 points and McElree 13 for Cal State Bakersfield in the first half.
Western's 56 points were a season low. The Vikings got 12 points from reserve Mollie Stelmack (Jr., New Westminster, BC/Franklin Pierce NH) and 10 points from Kelly Dykstra (Sr., Elma/Whatcom CC).
Western all-star forward Tina Donahue (Sr., Stanwood), who entered the contest averaging a team-best 17.0 points per game, was held scoreless on 0-of-5 floor shooting. She had two rebounds and six assists.
Although not ranked, Cal State Bakersfield already has beaten two NCAA Division I teams and posted a victory over 2004 Division II national champion California PA.
The Vikings close out the tourney Wednesday (5:30 p.m.) against Cal Poly Pomona (3-4), which lost to No.14 Seattle Pacific, 76-74.
