Box Score

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Forward Taylor Peacock (So.,Kenmore/Inglemoor) scored a team-high 20 points, lifting Western Washington University to a 76-68 victory over Central Washington University on Thursday, Jan. 8, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game at Nicholson Pavilion on the CWU campus.

Guard Katie Colard (Sr., McCleary/Elma) added 14 points for the Vikings, who improved to 8-5 overall and 2-2 in the GNAC.

Central fell to 7-6 overall and 2-3 in the GNAC despite a game-high 21 points by guard Jasmin Edwards. Courtney Johnson added 15 points for the Wildcats, who lost for the first time in their last six home contests.

WWU used a 9-2 run to take an 18-15 lead with 11:34 left in the first half and later scored 10 straight points, four by Peacocke, for a 13-point advantage, 34-21, with 3:41 to go. A 3-pointer at the buzzer by Kiana Gandy (So., Des Moines/Mount Rainier) gave the Vikings a 36-27 halftime advantage.

WWU never trailed in the second half, although the Wildcats got as close as two points, and were down by just three, 70-67, with the ball, but Johnson missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer. The Vikings then hit six straight free throws in the final minute to preserve the triumph.

WWU center Kayla Bernsen (Jr., Moses Lake), who entered the game averaging 12.2 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds, did not start and played just 12 minutes, finishing with four points and one rebound. She was not able to practice all week because of illness.

Colard entered the game tied for the school record for consecutive successful free throws, but missed her first attempt of the game on the first possession of the second half, leaving her at 27, tied with Erica Porter and Corinn Waltrip.

The Vikings now lead the series with Central, 87-10, winning the last 14 meetings and 22 of the last 23.

WWU is at Northwest Nazarene University on Saturday, Jan. 10 (7 p.m.), for a GNAC contest.