BELLINGHAM - The No. 9-ranked Western Washington University women's basketball team put on a clinic.

Carroll College got the best view in Carver Gym.

Western's Britt Harris, Corinn Waltrip, Trishi Williams, Sarah Hill and Jenni White scored in double-figures, and the Vikings extended their double-digit lead early in the second half to run away with a 79-52 win on opening night of the 16th Annual Lynda Goodrich Classic on Friday, Nov. 23, in Bellingham.

The Vikings' top six scorers shot a combined 72 percent, WWU tallied 23 assists to Carroll College's 10 and Western outrebounded the Saints 31-22.

"I think we played really well together," WWU coach Carmen Dolfo said. "That's kind of been a focus and I think our team is pretty unselfish, so I was really happy they moved the ball from person to person."

White spearheaded the Vikings' ball movement with her game-high six assists.

"I think Jenni White had something like nine or 10 assists, which is amazing," said Erika Ramstead, who finished with nine points and 12 boards. "I just think on our team it doesn't matter who scores, and that makes it really hard for people to guard us. It's just exciting to see us all contributing."

Western (3-0) led the entire half after Carroll College's Megan Patterson hit a 3-pointer to put the Saints ahead 3-2 less than two minutes into the game.

Buckets by Harris, White and Williams gave the Vikings a 9-3 lead, and Western maintained its six to eight-point buffer during the opening 10 minutes. Ramstead, Waltrip, Harris, White and Williams led WWU's balanced attack, scoring six or more points in the first period.

Ramstead, who pulled down nine first-half rebounds - three less than Carroll College had collectively - scored five straight points after WWU called a timeout with 9:15 left in the half, highlighting a 7-0 run that put the Vikings in front 29-16 with 6:32 to go until halftime.

"Last game, in the second half, she just kind of came alive," said Dolfo of Ramstead. "She is just playing with a lot of passion right now. She is playing hard. When you play hard, good things happen, and she's definitely doing that."

The Vikings shot an impressive 61.3 percent in the first half and were 4 for 7 from beyond the arch, but 12 straight points from Carroll College's Torrie Cahill in a nearly five-minute span helped the Saints stay in the game.

Western went into the break with scores from Kayla Bernsen and Williams to take a 43-30 lead. Williams led Western with eight first-half points.

Harris scored six of Western's first 11 points to open the second half, as the Vikings went on a 11-2 run in the first 4:27 to gain a 54-32 lead.

"I think we came out so strong and set the tone," Ramstead said. "I think we got up 20 at one point. That just makes a statement to a team that we're not messing around."

WWU's defense held the Saints to 40.4 percent shooting. Cahill and Carroll College's Patterson each scored a game-high 19 points. The duo shot 5 of 7 from 3-point territory. Minus a few defensive lapses, Dolfo was pleased with Western's help on defense, especially after the break.

Besides Cahill and Patterson, only two Saints finished with more than two points.

"I think the second half, we helped a little better," Dolfo said. "In the first half, we didn't do a very good job of shutting down No. 21 and No. 2, but I thought in the second half we did a better job of helping out on people. They have some good shooters."

Not as good as Western; at least not on this night.

Twelve players on Western's roster logged minutes. Of those 12, 11 that took shot attempts were a combined 62.5 percent from the field. Nine different players scored, and eight different Vikings recorded points in the second half.

"It's super nice," said Ramstead of the number of players who can score. "Anyone can go in, and anyone can score. We can play high-pressure defense and sub anyone out. No one is going to get tired. It's something a lot of teams don't have. It's really exciting to have my senior year be a year when everyone can play and everyone can contribute."

Carroll College cut Western's lead to 13 points with 11:07 left, but the Vikings went on a large scoring run during the next five minutes to put the game out of reach.

Harris led Western with 14 points, Waltrip scored 13, Williams added 12, White recorded 11 and Hill scored 10.

The Vikings face Evergreen State College in the Lynda Goodrich Classic finale at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Carver Gym.

Reach Andrew Lang at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call 360-756-2862.

WESTERN WASHINGTON 79, CARROLL 52

CARROLL (2-2)

Cahill,Torrie 19; Patterson,Megan 19; Estey,Katie 5; Junkermier,Kalee 5; Bagley,Jordan 2; Snelling,Bailey 2; O'Connel,Meghan 0; Gebhardt,Jackie 0; Johnson,Jordan 0; Chandler,Chelsea 0; Pfau,Jordan 0; Anderson,Cassie 0; O'Neill,Joey 0. Totals 21-52 3-5 52.

WESTERN WASHINGTON (3-0)

Harris,Britt 14; Waltrip,Corinn 13; Williams,Trishi 12; White,Jenni 11; Hill,Sarah 10; Ramstead,Erika 9; Pounds,Marcel 4; Bernsen,Kayla 4; Hathaway,Aleisha 2; Donaldson,Sydney 0; Colard,Katie 0; Benner,Brandi 0. Totals 35-56 3-3 79.

Half: WWU 43, Carroll 30

3-point goals--Carroll 7-14 (Patterson,Megan 3), Western Washington 6-11 (White,Jenni 3; Waltrip,Corinn 3). Fouled out--Carroll-None, Western Washington-None. Rebounds--Carroll 22 (Estey,Katie 4), Western Washington 31 (Ramstead,Erika 12). Assists--Carroll 10 (Snelling,Bailey 7), Western Washington 23 (White,Jenni 6). Total fouls--Carroll 9, Western Washington 11. Technical fouls--Carroll-None, Western Washington-None. A-349