Box Score | Game Book

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Taylor Peacocke scored 20 points to lead four Vikings in double figures scoring and Western Washington pulled away from Holy Names with a strong third quarter on its way to a commanding 89-57 victory in the Lynda Goodrich Classic on Saturday evening at Whatcom Pavilion.

The Vikings improved to 5-1 for the season and went 2-0 at the Lynda Goodrich Classic following a victory over Notre Dame de Namur on Friday evening. Holy Names dropped to 0-6 with the loss.

Peacocke (Sr., G, Kenmore, WA/Inglemoor) nearly finished with a double-double, adding 9 rebounds along with 5 assists. Junior forward Hannah Stipanovich (St. Louis, MO/Metro State) scored 15 points and senior forward Kiana Gandy (Des Moines, WA/Mount Rainier) added 14 points while senior guard Jessica Valley (Lafayette, IN/Nova Southeastern) totaled a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, adding 5 assists in a well-rounded effort. Senior forward Tia Briggs (Tacoma, WA/Wilson) finished with 9 points to help the balanced offensive attack.

Although WWU never trailed in the game, the Hawks kept the contest close until the offensive surge in the third quarter from the Vikings. WWU took a six-point lead to halftime before coming out strong in the third quarter after the Hawks scored the first points of the quarter to cut the lead to 33-29. WWU responded to go on a 16-3 run in a span of 3:53, led by 7 points from Valley and 6 points from Gandy during the stretch.

Back-to-back layups from Valley began the run and consecutive three-pointers from Valley and Peacocke capped the spurt as the Vikings opened a 49-32 lead with 5:19 to play in the quarter. WWU led by double digits from that point forward, leading by no fewer than 12 points the rest of the way and concluding the game with its largest lead of the game at 32 points.

The first and second quarters featured runs from both teams, beginning with a hot start from the Vikings. WWU opened the contest on a 13-4 run, led by 5 early points from freshman guard Lexie Bland (Ellensburg, WA). Holy Names answered to come within 16-14 with 7:45 to go in the second quarter before the Vikings responded with a 7-0 spurt to open a 23-14 advantage. The Hawks then went on a 7-0 run of their own to come within 23-21, but WWU never relinquished the lead en route to the halftime advantage.

Garysha Youngblood led the Hawks with 13 points while Tatiana Howard finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Tiana Burks and Jeana Magana each scored 9 points for Holy Names.

The Vikings shot 50% from the field (29-for-58) in the game, although only 3-of-12 from three-point range. WWU made 28-of-39 free throw attempts (71.8%), led by Peacocke (9-for-11) and Stipanovich (7-for-7). Defensively, the Vikings held Holy Names to 32.3% from the floor (21-for-65). The Hawks finished 3-for-20 on three-pointers.

Peacocke was named co-MVP of the tournament after averaging 22 points per game, 7 rebounds per game and 4 assist per game over two games. She has been named MVP at each tournament in which she has played this year, also earning the honor at the Sodexo Tip-Off Classic and the West Region Crossover Classic. Valley was also an all-tournament selection after averaging 9 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, 5 assists per game and 3 steals per game.

WWU returns to action on December 1, opening GNAC play at Alaska (7 pm AKT, 8 pm PT) before facing Alaska Anchorage on December 3 (2 pm AKT, 3 pm PT).

Goodrich Classic: Saint Martin's topped Notre Dame de Namur 78-61 in the early game on Saturday to finish the tournament 2-0. Notre Dame de Namur led 27-16 after the first quarter but Saint Martin's outscored the Argonauts 27-8 during the second quarter to take a 44-34 lead to halftime. The Saints continued to roll in the third quarter, stretching the lead to 62-41 after three quarters of play. Elin Johansson (17 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists), Baylee Olsen (14 points) and Mercedes Victor (11 points) helped lead the Saints offense. Emily Tevez (23 points, 11 rebounds), Marissa Caballero (16 points) and Jerusha Paine (14 points) all reached double figures scoring for the Argonauts.

Olsen finished the tournament 12-for-13 from the floor and 9-for-9 from three-point range. She went 7-for-7 from three-point range on Friday against Holy Names to set the GNAC single-game record for consecutive three-pointers without a miss. She is 10-for-10 from long range over her last 10 attempts in a three-game stretch to tie the GNAC record for consecutive three-pointers over a multi-game stretch, held by Amanda Dunbar of WWU.

Game Notes: Taylor Peacocke now has 1,340 career points to move into 9th place in the WWU record books...next up on the list is Amanda Olsen who scored 1,367 points from 1996-2000...Peacocke is averaging 24.2 points per game in 6 games this season...WWU played for the fourth consecutive game without senior starting forward Rachel Albert (undisclosed)...WWU was 28-for-39 (71.8%) from the free throw line vs. Holy Names, and is now 133-for-168 (79.2%) from the free throw line this season.

2016 Lynda Goodrich Classic - All-Tournament Team

Baylee Olsen, Saint Martin's (18.0 ppg, 12-13 FG, 9-9 3pt)

Marissa Caballero, Notre Dame de Namur (15.0 ppg, 4.0 apg, 2.5 spg)

Tatiana Howard, Holy Names (7.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg)

Jessica Valley, Western Washington (9.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 5.0 apg, 3.0 spg)

Co-Most Valuable Player: Elin Johansson, Saint Martin's (16.0 ppg, 8.0 rbg, 4.5 apg)

Co-Most Valuable Player: Taylor Peacocke, Western Washington 22.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.0 apg)

2016 Lynda Goodrich Classic - Results

Saint Martin's 69, Holy Names 60

Western Washington 77, Notre Dame de Namur 64

Saint Martin's 78, Notre Dame de Namur 61

Western Washington 89, Holy Names 57