Jan. 31, 2013
Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Forward Trishi Williams (Sr., Mabton) had a game-high 15 points as nationally ranked Western Washington University overcame a slow start to roll past University of Alaska Fairbanks, 77-48, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball contest Thursday at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.
Guard Jenni White (So., Spokane/East Valley) came off the bench to contribute 13 points for the Vikings, who are No.5 in this week's USA Today Sports/ESPN NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll. It was the 10th straight victory for WWU, which improved to 16-2 overall and holds a two-game lead atop the GNAC standings at 10-0.
WWU is now unbeaten in 10 home games this season and has won 14 straight at Carver Gym over the last two years.
UAF fell to 2-16 overall and 0-10 in conference play with its ninth straight loss. Benissa Bulaya had 13 points for the Nanooks, who shot just 24.2 percent (16-of-66) from the field.
Despite the final score, the Nanooks gave the conference-leading Vikings a battle for much of the first half, holding a 19-16 lead after a Jacqueline Lovato basket and free throw with 10:02 left in the first half. But Katie Colard (So., McCleary/Elma) converted back-to-back 3-pointers to start a run of 10 straight points, and UAF went nearly nine minutes without a field goal as WWU opened up a 38-24 halftime lead.
The Vikings then put the game completely out of reach early in the second half, scoring the first nine points of the period to take a 47-24 advantage, and the margin was never under 20 after that.
Center Britt Harris (Sr., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck)) had 10 points for WWU, and forward Sydney Donaldson (So., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) had a game-high 10 rebounds as the Vikings had a 52-43 advantage on the boards.
Lovato had 11 points for UAF, and Taylor Altenburg added 10.
The win was the 10th straight for the Vikings over UAF, upping their series advantage to 40-5.
WWU entertains defending GNAC and West Region champion Alaska Anchorage on Saturday, Feb. 2 (5:15 p.m.).
