Dec. 15, 2011
Box Score
LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Western Washington University used a burst early in the second half to break open a tight game and defeat University of Central Oklahoma, 69-53, in first-day women's basketball action Thursday at the sixth annual Great Western Shootout being held at The Arena at South Point.
Forward Sydney Donaldson (Fr., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) and guard Trishi Williams (Jr., Mabton) each had 12 points for Western, which improved to 6-3. Central Oklahoma fell to 8-4 with the loss. Guard Chelsi Dennis came off the bench to score a game-high 13 points for the Bronchos.
Neither team led by more than four points until the dying moments of the first half, when WWU closed the period with five straight points to take a 34-28 halftime lead.
The Vikings then blew the game open early in the second half, starting the period with a 22-6 run in the first seven minutes to take a 56-34 lead. The margin was never less than 14 points after that.
Central Oklahoma played most of the contest without freshman center Paiten Taylor, who entered the game as the Bronchos' leading scorer and second-leading rebounder. Taylor left with an apparent knee injury four minutes into the contest and did not return.
Guard Katie Colard (R-Fr., McCleary/Elma) had 11 points for WWU and guard Kristin Schramm (Sr., Chelan) added 10.
The Vikings held the Bronchos to 27.5 percent (19-of-69) field-goal shooting and had a 55-39 advantage in rebounds, with center Britt Harris (Jr., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck) grabbing a game-high 12 and Donaldson having eight.
The 53 points were a season low for Central Oklahoma, which came into the contest averaging 81.5 points a game and had been held below 70 just twice previously this season.
WWU blocked a season-high seven shots, Donaldson, who was 6-of-8 from the floor, Sarah Hill (So., Richmond, VA) and Kayla Bernsen (Fr., Moses Lake) each having two.
In final-day tourney action Friday, Central Oklahoma meets Central Washington at 11 a.m. and Drury plays host Western Washington at 1 p.m.
