Nov. 25, 2016 Box Score | Game Book
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Western Washington University women's basketball team used a dominating fourth quarter in a come-from-behind 77-64 victory over Notre Dame de Namur Friday evening in the second game of the Lynda Goodrich Classic at Whatcom Pavilion.
The Vikings trailed 55-53 heading into the final quarter of play, but started the fourth quarter on a 12-0 run and out-scored the Argonauts 24-9 in the final quarter to put away the win and improve to 4-1 on the season. NDNU falls to 2-4 with the loss.
"I felt like we came out ready to play, but then we kind of let up," said head coach Carmen Dolfo. "The fourth quarter was all about the defense jump-starting our offense. We started helping each other out a little more and we really came together on the defensive end of the floor."
Senior center Tia Briggs (Tacoma, WA/Wilson) recorded her first double-double of the season totaling 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Vikings. Briggs was 7-for-14 from the field, and added 3 assists one blocked shot.
"Tia really had a nice game, both offensively and defensively," said Dolfo. "She sparked us in the fourth quarter with her defense."
Senior guard Taylor Peacocke (Kenmore, WA/Inglemoor) led all players with 24 points, going 5-for-14 from the field (3-for-6 3-pointers) and was 11-for-12 from the free throw line.
Senior forward Kiana Gandy (Des Moines, WA/Mount Rainier) also reached double-digits with 11 points (10 in the first half). Senior guard Jessica Valley (Lafayette, IN/Nova Southeastern) filled up the box score with 7 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals.
Notre Dame de Namur was led by 15 points from guard Aubrey Mendonca and 14 points from Grandview, Washington native Marissa Caballero. The Argonauts were 11-for-26 from 3-point range, led by a 5-for-6 performance from Mendonca.
The Vikings took a 5-point lead into halftime at 41-36. After commanding the first quarter 27-16, NDNU out-scored the Vikings 20-14 in the second period. The Argonauts opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run and extended the run to 20-6 to gain the lead at 36-33. WWU answered with a 8-0 run to end the quarter to take the five-point lead into the half. The Vikings played the last 5 minutes of the quarter without leading Peacocke who recorded her second personal foul midway through the quarter.
Gandy led the Vikings with 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting in the first half. Briggs, Hannah Stipanovich (Jr., St. Louis, IL/Metro State) and Peacocke all had 8 points. Caballero led all players with 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field.
NDNU went on a 13-4 run to open the second half to grab a 49-45 lead. The Vikings remained close and ended the third quarter down two points at 55-53. WWU then opened the fourth quarter going on a 12-0 run and didn't look while recording the 13-point victory. Peacocke scored 11 of her 24 points in the final quarter, much in part to going 9-for-10 at the free throw line.
The Vikings return to action tomorrow playing Holy Names (0-5) in the final game of the 2016 Lynda Goodrich Classic. Saint Martin's and Notre Dame de Namur play at 5:30 pm.
Goodrich Classic: Saint Martin's beat Holy Names 69-60 in the first game of the 2016 Lynda Goodrich Classic played Friday at Whatcom Pavilion. Baylee Olsen scored a game-high 22 points, connecting on all seven of her three-point attempts to lead the Saints to the 9-point victory over the Hawks. Holy Names held a 4-point lead at 44-40 early in the final quarter, but used four three-pointers from Olsen in the comeback victory. Garysha Youngblood and Taylor Krouse each scored 10 points for HNU.
Game Notes: Taylor Peacocke now has 1,320 career points to move into 10th place in the WWU record books...next up on the list is Shannon Grandbois who scored 1,335 points from 1992-97...Peacocke is averaging 25.0 points per game in 5 games this season...WWU played for the third consecutive game without senior starting forward Rachel Albert (undisclosed)...WWU was 23-for-28 (82.1%) from the free throw line vs. NDNU, and is now 105-for-129 (81.2%) from the free throw line this season.
