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Dec. 19, 2012

Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Point guard Corinn Waltrip (Sr., Tigard, OR) matched a career-high with 23 points, nine of them in overtime, as Western Washington University defeated Grand Canyon University, 72-68, in final-day action Wednesday in women's basketball action between two nationally Top 25 ranked teams at the 2012 South Point Holiday Hoops Classic held at The Arena at South Point.

The Vikings, ranked No.20 in this week's USA Today Sports/ESPN NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, improved to 8-2 with the triumph. They upset No.6-rated Washburn KS, 64-62, on Tuesday.

"It was great to see this team step up and take ownership after two losses in California," said WWU coach Carmen Dolfo (22nd year, 454-171). "Rather then feeling sorry for themselves, they stepped up and played solid defense and played together."

Grand Canyon, No.15 nationally, fell to 10-3 and had a nine-game winning streak snapped. Forward Judy Jones led the Antelopes with 24 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. It was her eighth straight double-double in points and rebounds.

In a game that featured 10 ties and 13 lead changes, Jones gave the Antelopes a 56-55 lead on a free throw with 3:35 left, then fed Maylinn Smith for a jumper with 1:59 to play to make the margin 58-55. But the Vikings forced overtime as Katie Colard (So., McCleary/Elma) hit a 3-pointer from the left wing, and at the other end, Jones missed a pull-up 12-footer with two seconds left.

WWU never trailed in the extra frame, using an 8-2 run to grab a 66-60 lead with 1:55 remaining, and from there, Waltrip, who hit a 3-pointer in the charge, converted six consecutive free throws to help the Vikings maintain the advantage.

"She just took over for us and hit some big shots when we were down," Dolfo said of Waltrip, who made 4-of-8 3-pointers and handed out six assists.

Center Britt Harris (Sr., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck) had 15 points and 10 rebounds for WWU, forward Trishi Williams (Sr., Mabton) had 10 points and seven assists, and forward Sarah Hill (Jr., Richmond, VA/Lloyd C. Bird) grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds.

"Sarah brings so much emotion, does the intangibles and has those long arms," said Dolfo.

GCU held an 11-7 lead early in the game, but the Vikings ran off 11 straight points to take an 18-11 advantage and held a 28-20 lead at halftime.

The Vikings shot only 35.7 percent (25-of-70) from the field, but held the Antelopes to 37.7 percent (26-of-69) and had a 57-42 advantage in rebounds.

WWU has a two-week break before playing at defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion Alaska Anchorage on Thursday (7 p.m.), Jan. 3.