Box Score

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Western Washington junior point guard Taylor Peacocke scored a team-high 20 points, including 13 in the second half, to lead the Vikings to a 58-51 victory over Central Washington Thursday evening in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game at Nicholson Pavilion.

With the victory and a loss by Montana State Billings, the Vikings moved into sole possession of 2nd place in the GNAC with an 11-2 league mark (15-6 overall). Central falls to 15-6 overall and 8-5 in conference play. Western has won 14 of its last 17 games after starting the season 1-3.

The Vikings and Wildcats were tied 44-44 through three quarters, before WWU pulled away with a 14-7 advantage in the fourth quarter.

Peacocke (Kenmore, WA/Inglemoor/Sacramento State) scored 13 of her 20 points in the second half, including 6 in the decisive fourth quarter. Senior center Kayla Bernsen (Moses Lake, WA) just missed her third consecutive double-double with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Central was led by 20 points from freshman guard Jasmin Edwards on 7-for-15 shooting (3-for-7 from 3-point range). Mandy Steward added 15 points for the Wildcats.

WWU stormed out to a 10-2 lead early in the first quarter, but Central went on an 11-2 run to grab a 13-12 lead. The Vikings ended the quarter on a 4-0 run to hold a 16-13 lead through the first quarter. Peacocke led the Vikings with 6 points, with Gandy and junior guard Aleisha Hathaway (Spokane, WA/Shadle Park) each scoring 4 points. Edwards led all players with 8 points in the opening quarter.

The second quarter was much of the same as Western extended the run from the first quarter to build a 19-13 lead. Central battled back with a 9-3 run to pull even at 22-22. The Vikings went into halftime with a 30-29 lead with Bernsen scoring 8 of her 10 first-half points in the quarter.

Western played without starting junior forward Tia Briggs (Tacoma, WA/Wilson) due to illness for the third consecutive game.

The Vikings (15-6, 11-2 GNAC) return to road action Saturday vs. Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, ID (7 pm MT/6 pm PT).