Box Score

Post-game Interview - Taylor Peacocke

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Western Washington University women's basketball team rallied from a seven-point deficit with 1:02 left in regulation and went on to claim an 80-77 overtime win over UC-San Diego to conclude final-day action at the West Region Crossover Classic on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.

The Vikings, ranked No.21 in the USA Today Sports Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll, improved to 2-2. Center Kayla Bernsen (Jr., Moses Lake) led the Vikings with 19 points before fouling out.

UCSD fell to 1-2 despite a game-high 22 points from guard Miranda Seto. Haley Anderson added 14 points and McKennan Bertsch had 12.

WWU trailed by seven, 72-65, but guard Jenni White (Sr., Spokane/East Valley) hit a 3-pointer, and a rebounding foul was called on the Tritons. Taylor Peacocke (So.,Kenmore/Inglemoor) then hit two free throws, cutting the margin to two, 72-70, with 1:01 left. Following a travelling call, White hit a pull-up jumper from eight feet with 24.8 seconds left to tie the score, and Seto's nine-foot leaner at the buzzer rimmed out to force an extra period.

In overtime, McKennan Bertsch gave the Tritons a two-point lead, but the Vikings scored the next six points, Sydney Donaldson (Sr., Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway) tying the score with a layin, then Katie Colard (Sr., McCleary/Elma) converting two drives, giving WWU a 78-74 lead with 38 seconds left.

Seto then hit three free throws with 24 seconds to go, pulling UCSD within a point. But Donaldson made two free throws, putting WWU back up by three. The Tritons had two attempts to tie, but Donaldson blocked the first with eight seconds left, and Seto's off-balance attempt at the buzzer fell short.

Five Vikings scored in double figures - Peacocke had 16 points, Donaldson 14, White 11 and Colard 10. Colard also had a game-high seven assists.

The Vikings held a 54-49 lead after two Kiana Gandy (So., Des Moines/Mount Rainier) free throws with 9:44 to play. But the Tritons ran off 14 straight points, with Seto getting four points and two assists, to take a 63-54 advantage with six minutes left.

Seattle Pacific claimed the tournament championship after a 71-66 victory over Azusa Pacific. SPU guard Suzanna Ohlsen was named tourney MVP. She was joined on the All-Tournament team by Peacocke, Colard, Seto, Kelly Hardeman of APU and Aubree Callen of SPU.

WWU entertains San Francisco State University on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 5 p.m.