Box Score

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. - The Western Washington Vikings battled back from an 11-point deficit late in the second half, but couldn't complete the comeback in a 48-46 loss to Montana State Billings Saturday night in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game at Skagit Valley College.

The Vikings shot a season-low 33.3% from the field, connecting on 21-of-63 shots (entered game as the No. 4 shooting team in NCAA II at 48.2%) and were held to a season-low 46 points.

The Vikings had their seven-game winning streak snapped to fall to 19-7 overall and remain in second place in the GNAC with a 15-3 record. MSUB recorded the season sweep of the Vikings to improve to 18-8 overall and 14-4 in GNAC play.

"We had a bad stretch at the end of the first half and the start of the second half and just couldn't dig ourselves out of that hole," said head coach Carmen Dolfo. "We had some good shots at the end of the game that just would not fall. It's disappointing - we did a great job defensively - but you have to get the ball to go into the basket."

Western trailed by as many as 11 points at 41-30 with 2:31 left in the third quarter, but battled back going on a 12-4 run to pull to within three points at 45-42. Alisha Breen hit a three-pointer for the Yellowjackets to extend the lead to four points at 48-42 with 5:46 remaining in the game. MSUB would not score again, but WWU was just 1-for-11 shooting in the last 5 minutes of the game. Senior center Kayla Bernsen (Moses Lake, WA) pulled up for a potential game-tying jumper that rimmed out with four seconds remaining in the game.

Bernsen recorded her eighth double-double (2nd-most in the GNAC) filling up the stat sheet with 10 points, 11 rebounds and added 5 blocked shots. Junior guard Taylor Peacocke (Kenmore, WA/Inglemoor/Sacramento State) led all players with 19 points on 9-for-20 shooting.

MSUB was led by 16 points from Breen and 13 points from Monica Grimsrud.

The Vikings held a 7-point lead 24-17 midway through the second quarter, but were held without a field goal for the last 5 minutes of the half, missing their last 8 shots. MSUB went on a 13-0 run to grab a 30-24 lead at the break. Peacocke led the Vikings with 11 points on 5-for-8 shooting. Breen matched Peacocke's first-half high with 11 points. WWU was limited to a 37.9% field goal percentage in the first half and committed 10 turnovers.

The Vikings (19-7, 15-3 GNAC) close out the regular season next week against No. 1 Alaska Anchorage (Thursday, 7 pm AKT/8 pm PT) and Alaska (Saturday, 7pm AKT/8 pm PT).