Feb. 7, 2008
Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Center Claire Pallansch (Jr., Redmond) scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Western Washington University defeated Montana State University Billings, 68-59, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game Thursday on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium.
The Vikings, who won back-to-back games for the first time this season, improved to 6-16 overall and 3-7 in the GNAC. Guard Amanda Dunbar (R-Fr., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck) added 14 points for Western.
MSUB, which is in its first season as a GNAC member, fell to 8-11 overall and 5-5 in the GNAC with its fourth loss in the last five games. Guard Alira Carpenter, the leading scorer in the GNAC, had a game-high 23 points for the Yellowjackets.
Western led by just two, 33-31, in the opening minute of the second half, but broke the game open with a 17-6 run to take a 50-37 lead on a layin by Krista Lersch (So., Lynnwood/Blanchet) with 11:30 to go as the Yellowjackets hit just three of their first 16 shots from the field in the second half.
The Vikings still led by 14, 63-49, with four minutes remaining. MSUB ran off 10 straight points, six of them by Carpenter, to pull within four, 63-59, with 1:57 left.
But Gabby Wade (So., Lacey/River Ridge) hit two free throws to make the margin six, then the Vikings got stops on the next two possessions as Sarah Schramm (Jr., Chelan) blocked a shot and Marelle Moehrle (Fr., Lynnwood/Meadowdale) stole a pass. Western then hit three of four free throws in the final 25 seconds to ice the victory.
Western held MSUB to just 29.4 percent (20-of-68) field-goal shooting, the fourth straight game the Vikings have held their opponent under 36.0 percent. The Vikings also had a 50-45 edge in rebounds, with Lersch grabbing 10.
Center Dani Henderson had nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds for MSUB.
MSUB used an 11-2 run in a span of less than four minutes to take a 21-14 lead with 9:43 left in the first half. The Vikings responded with seven straight points to tie the score at 21-21, and later took a 33-27 lead on back-to-back 3-pointers by Moehrle. Western did not score in the last four minutes of the half, but still held a 33-29 lead at the intermission.
The Vikings, who have already had 75 player-games missed this season because of injuries, were boosted by the return of point guard India Soo (Jr., Kamuela, HI/Kamehameha), who had seven points in 12 minutes.
Western ends its four-game home stand Saturday (7 p.m.), entertaining Seattle University in a GNAC counter.
