Western Washington University fell behind early, and despite two big rallies, could not get over the hump as it fell 68-63 to Sonoma State University in final-day action Saturday, Dec. 8, at the California Collegiate Athletic Association/Great Northwest Athletic Conference Crossover Classic held at Acker Gymnasium on the campus of host Chico State University.
Center Britt Harris scored a game-high 18 points, 14 in the second half, for the Vikings, ranked No. 6 in this week's USA Today Sports/ESPN NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, who fell to 6-2. They had opened the season with six wins, all at home, before being edged, 75-74, by Chico State to open the tourney Friday.
Sonoma State, which led 37-28 at halftime, improved to 3-4. The Seawolves got 12 points each from Marie Sweet and Taylor Vigil, and Bronte Sheahan came off the bench with 10.
Point guard Corinn Waltrip scored 12 points for WWU, and guard Katie Colard added 11. Reserve forward Sarah Hill grabbed 13 rebounds, 10 in the first half, as the Vikings had a 45-39 advantage on the boards.
Sonoma State scored 10 of the game's first 12 points, and led by 12, 37-25, with 46 seconds left in the first half, and by nine at the intermission.
WWU opened the second half with a 13-4 run to tie the game at 41-41 with 15:05 remaining. Harris had eight points and guard Trishi Williams five for the Vikings during that rally.
The Seawolves moved back in front, opening up a 10-point lead, 59-49, with 6:08 to go. WWU responded with a 14-6 run, five of the points by Colard, to get within two, 65-63, on a layup by Waltrip with 1:19 left.
But the Vikings did not score again after Sonoma State's Jamie Capoot had converted a three-point play.
WWU turned the ball over 19 times as the Seawolves had 14 steals, four by Vigil. Sonoma State had just seven turnovers.
WWU takes a week off for fall quarter final examinations before going to Las Vegas for the 2012 South Point Holiday Hoops Classic where the Vikings meet Washburn KS at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18,
SONOMA STATE 68, WESTERN WASHINGTON 63
WESTERN WASHINGTON (6-2)
Harris, Britt 8-13 2-2 18; Waltrip, Corinn 5-12 0-0 12; Colard, Katie 4-10 0-1 11; Williams, Trishi 3-11 2-2 9; Hill, Sarah 2-7 0-0 4; Bernsen, Kayla 2-5 0-0 4; Pounds, Marcel 1-2 0-0 3; Ramstead, Erika 1-3 0-0 2; Donaldson, Sydney 0-1 0-0 0; Hathaway, Aleisha 0-0 0-0 0; White, Jenni 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-65 4-5 63.
SONOMA STATE (3-4)
VIGIL, Taylor 6-16 0-0 12; SWEET, Marie 5-9 2-2 12; SHEAHAN, Bronte 4-13 1-2 10; CAPOOT, Jamie 4-8 1-2 9; SANCHEZ, Desirae 3-7 0-0 8; ITO, Alysa 3-8 0-0 6; NEWMAN, Travis 2-6 2-2 6; DAY, Elizabeth 2-2 0-1 4; FAHEY, Kristina 0-5 1-2 1. Totals 29-74 7-11 68.
Half: Sonoma State 37, WWU 28
3-point goals--Western Washington 7-23 (Colard,Katie 3-9; Waltrip,Corinn 2-7; Pounds,Marcel 1-2; Williams,Trishi 1-3; White,Jenni 0-1; Ramstead,Erika 0-1), Sonoma State 3-16 (SANCHEZ, Desirae 2-5; SHEAHAN, Bronte 1-3; ITO, Alysa 0-2; NEWMAN, Travis 0-2; FAHEY, Kristina 0-2; SWEET, Marie 0-1; VIGIL, Taylor 0-1). Fouled out--Western Washington-None, Sonoma State-None.
Rebounds--Western Washington 45 (Hill,Sarah 13), Sonoma State 39 (VIGIL, Taylor 6). Assists--Western Washington 17 (Harris,Britt 5; Williams,Trishi 5), Sonoma State 11 (ITO, Alysa 6). Total fouls--Western Washington 14, Sonoma State 11. Technical fouls--Western Washington-None, Sonoma State-None. A-127
