Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University hit its first six shots from the field to open up a lead it never relinquished in defeating Seattle Pacific University, 60-43, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game Thursday at Whatcom Pavilion.

Senior center Kayla Bernsen (Moses Lake, WA) had a game-high 18 points, to go along with 6 rebounds and 6 blocked shots, as the Vikings improved to 17-6 overall and remained in second in the GNAC at 13-2. SPU fell to 8-14 and 5-10.

WWU used its hot shooting to start the contest to take a 14-10 lead 7 minutes into the game, and held a 30-26 advantage at halftime.

The Falcons were within just two, 32-30, with 6:45 left in the third quarter, but the Vikings then broke the game over with defense, holding SPU scoreless for more than 7 minutes to lead 44-30 at the end of the third period. WWU eventually led by as much as 25 points in the fourth quarter.

"We were struggling in the first half to defend their drives," said WWU coach Carmen Dolfo. "I thought we settled down in the second half and did a really good job defensively. When our defense is good, things start to happen for us."

Western held the Falcons to 24.6 percent field-goal shooting (15-of-61), including just 16.1 percent (5-of-31) in the second half. Lindsay Lee led SPU with 9 points.

Junior guards Taylor Peacocke (Kenmore, WA/Inglemoor/Sacramento State) and Aleisha Hathaway (Spokane, WA/Shadle Park) each had 11 points for WWU. The Vikings shot 56.0 percent (28-50) from the field, with Bernsen going 8-for-10, and junior forward Rachel Albert (Bellingham, WA/Sehome) 5-for-6 for a career-high 10 points.

The Vikings played their fifth consecutive game without starting forward Tia Briggs (Jr., Tacoma, WA/Wilson), who has been sidelined with an illness (averaging 11.0 points, 4.9 rebounds per game this season).

The Vikings (17-6, 13-2 GNAC) returns to action Saturday vs. Saint Martin's at Whatcom Pavilion. Saturday's game vs. SMU will be senior night as Kayla Bernsen will be recognized for her outstanding accomplishments in her five years in the program.