• News
• |
• Schedule
• |
• Roster
• |
• Stats
• |
• Archives

March 13, 2009

Box Score

SEATTLE, Wash. - Forward Jessica Summers (Sr., Blaine) scored a team-high 17 points, but it wasn't enough as Western Washington University fell to Humboldt State University, 74-64, in an opening-round game Friday at the West Regional of NCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Tournament being played at Royal Brougham Pavilion on the campus of host Seattle Pacific University.

The Vikings, the No.5 seed in the region, concluded their season 19-9. Forwards Willow Cabe (Jr., Elma/McCleary) and Gabby Wade (Jr., Lacey/River Ridge) each had 13 points for Western.

Humboldt State, the No.4 seed, improved to 24-7 with their 12th triumph in the last 13 games. Forward Katie Franci led the Lumberjacks with game-highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds, and center Brittney Taylor added 17 points.

"I thought we did a poor job of blocking out in the second half, and we did a poor job on their 3-point shooters," said Western coach Carmen Dolfo. "They crash (the boards) hard and we just didn't make the adjustments that we needed to make. Humboldt State played with a lot of heart."

In a game that featured 11 ties, Western used an 8-0 run to open up a 42-36 advantage with 14:18 to play, the biggest lead of the game to that point. But shortly after that, Humboldt State rallied with 13 straight points in a little over two minutes, taking a 51-44 lead on a 3-pointer by Taylor Kilgore with 11:32 left.

The Vikings pulled to within one, 55-54, with eight minutes left after back-to-back layups by Amanda Dunbar (So., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck) and Wade, but the Lumberjacks countered with a Tricia Alaba 3-pointer. Western never got closer than three points after that, and was never closer than six in the final four minutes.

Both teams shot poorly from the field, with Western hitting 36.5 percent (27-of-74) and Humboldt State just 34.8 (24-of-69). But the Lumberjacks hit 87 percent (20-on-23) on free throws, while Western was cold at 57.1 percent (8-of-14).

It was Western's 10th national tournament appearance in 11 years as an NCAA II member. The Vikings were returning to post-season after missing the tourney following an injury-riddled 9-21 season in 2007-08. It is Western's 36th post-season appearance in 38 years of women's basketball.

"We did turn it around," said Dolfo, "but it's always a tough way to end when you don't play your best. I still feel like we could have gone a little bit further." Humboldt State advanced to the regional semifinals Saturday against the winner of No.1 Seattle Pacific vs. No.8 Grand Canyon.

The regional championship game is Monday with the winner advancing to the NCAA II Elite Eight at San Antonio, Texas, on March 24-27.

Loss to Humboldt ends Vikings' season

SOMER BREEZE - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

SEATTLE - Across the stat sheet the Western Washington University women's basketball team played just about even with Humboldt State.

But the Lumberjacks' had the Vikings beat in two decisive categories.

Humboldt State's advantage from beyond the 3-point arc and on defensive rebounds lifted the Lumberjacks to a 74-64 opening-round NCAA Division II West Regional victory over the Vikings at Seattle Pacific University's Royal Brougham Pavilion on Friday, March 13.

"They crashed the boards, and they got really hot on the 3-point line," Western coach Carmen Dolfo said. "Those two things really hurt us."

The loss ends Western's season at 19-9, while Humboldt State advanced to meet Seattle Pacific/Grand Canyon on Saturday in the semifinals.

Western made its 36th postseason appearance in the program's 38-year history. Prior to last year, the Vikings advanced to the West Regional in each of the school's first nine years as a NCAA D-II member.

"Last year we went 9-21, with a lot of injuries," senior guard India Soo said. "But this year we fought through a lot of adversity. We should have gone further than we did, but I'm proud of the team."

In a game that had 14 lead changes and 11 ties, the Lumberjacks had the edge with six 3-pointers - four in the second half - to the Vikings' two - both in the first half.

While Humboldt State had only a one-rebound edge over Western (49-48), the Lumberjacks were more aggressive on the defensive boards, finishing with 30 to the Vikings' 20 offensive.

"Blocking out has always been a thing for us," senior Jessica Summers said. "We can do it, but when you don't do it against teams like that, there's no way to come back from it."

The Vikings led by as many as six points in a tight first half - it was tied at 30 at the break. But the Lumberjacks went on a 13-0 run that spanned two and a half minutes in the second half to gain the momentum.

"(Humboldt) really fought," Dolfo said. "It was a really physical game. Humboldt fought at the time they needed to fight."

Western's Gabby Wade got the Vikings within one point at 55-54 with 7:45 left, but that was the closest the Vikings would get.

Humboldt State's Katie Franci scored a game-high 23 points and finished with 20 rebounds, while Brittney Taylor finished with 17 points.

Summers, who had three points in the first half, scored 14 points in an effort to extend her career. Summers, Soo, Liz McCarrell and Claire Pallansch are the Vikings' four seniors.

"I really don't like to lose, and I wasn't ready for the season to be over," Summers said.

Summers finished with a team-high 17 points. Junior Willow Cabe and Wade both had 13, and sophomore Amanda Dunbar rounded out the scorers in double figures with 10.

"Our four seniors have been wonderful," Dolfo said. "It's a hard way for it to end, but they showed a lot of character and poise this year. I think they need to focus on how they turned it around and what they've done."

The Vikings also had a lot of output from their reserves, receiving 34 points off the bench. Pallansch led Western in rebounding with eight, and Dunbar recorded five assists.

Western fell just one game shy of reaching its 28th 20-win season. This year the Vikings became the 10th collegiate program to win 800 games.