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Jan. 6, 2011

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Guard Megan Pinske (Sr., Coquitlam, BC/Port Moody) had a game-high 22 points as nationally ranked Western Washington University defeated Saint Martin's University, 63-54 in overtime, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball game Thursday at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.

The Vikings, ranked No.13 in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association/USA Today/ESPN/NCAA Division II Top 25, improved to 11-1 overall and tied with Western Oregon atop the GNAC standings at 4-0 after their sixth consecutive victory.

SMU fell to 6-6 and 1-3 with its fourth straight loss. Guard Marelle Moehrle led the Saints with 12 points.

Each team had potential go-ahead shots blocked in the final minute of regulation, but the Vikings took control quickly in the extra period, scoring the first seven points. Center Lauren Hefflin (Sr., Ridgefield) made two free throws, a steal by Pinske led to a layin by forward Gabby Wade (Sr., Lacey/River Ridge), and guard Corinn Waltrip (So., Tigard, OR) capped the run with a 3-pointer, giving Western a 58-51 lead with 3:21 to go.

Moehrle, who played two seasons at Western (2007-09), hit a 3-pointer to narrow the margin to four, but the Saints did not score again in overtime.

The biggest lead in regulation was just five points, a margin Western held twice, the final time with 3:52 left at 49-44. But four free throws by Roni Jo Mielke and a layup by Kellie Snyder put Saint Martin's in front, 50-49, with 2:58 to play.

Pinske gave Western a 51-50 lead on a jumper with 1:34 left, but Moerhle drove as the shot clock ran down and was fouled, making one of two free throws with 1:04 to play and sending the game to overtime.

Guard Amanda Dunbar (Sr., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck) had 14 points for Western, hitting a trio of 3-pointers in the second half. She upped her four-year career scoring total to 1,402.

SMU shot just 34.6 percent (18-of-52) from the field, and committed 29 turnovers, but the Saints had a 45-28 advantage in rebounds and were 16-of-22 (72.7 percent) on free throws.

It was the 409th career win for Western coach Carmen Dolfo (20th year), who is just two shy of tying Lynda Goodrich for most victories in school history.

The Vikings entertain Western Oregon University on Saturday (3 p.m.) in a GNAC counter.