Women's Basketball | 11/21/2008 11:57:20 PM
Box Score MONMOUTH, Ore. - The Western Oregon University women's basketball team earned an 85-53 victory over Notre Dame de Namur in its first game of the WOU/Phoenix Inn D2 Shootout Friday, Nov. 21.
Katie Torland scored 24 points, including 19 in the first half to pace the Wolves, as Western Oregon improved to 2-1 on the season. This is the first time since moving to Division II that Western Oregon has started a season 2-1 against D. II opponents. Britni Rathke had double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds in the losing effort as the Argonauts fell to 1-2 on the season.
Western Oregon outrebounded its opponent for the third time this season as it hauled in 47 boards to NDNU's 36. Torland lead the way with nine rebounds, including five on the offensive glass, and Alissa Brasel came off the bench to grabbed eight boards to go along with 11 points. Danielle Bellando was the only other Western Oregon student-athlete in double-figures as she came off the bench with a career-high 13 points including going 5-of-5 from the line. Point guards Erika Wilson and Kelly Hughes led the team with four assists apiece.
The Wolves were able to put the game away on a 37-13 run which stretched from 1:42 remaining in the first half to the 7:11 mark in the second. Western also capitalized on the NDNU's 27 turnovers as it outscored the Argonauts 31-6 on points off turnovers.
"Our defense keyed our run," said head coach Greg Bruce. "We were able to take advantage of our great defensive effort during that stretch as we were able get out on the run and extend our lead."
The Wolves were able capitalize off a 27-17 rebounding advantage in the first half to take a 44-29 lead into the locker room. Both teams converted on 13 field goals in the half but Western Oregon made four additional three pointers and 11 more free throws to take the 15-point halftime lead. Torland was the driving force for the Western Oregon offense with the 19 points as she went 5-of-7 from behind the arc.
"We were able to play our whole bench tonight and everyone came in and played well," said Bruce. "I really liked our team enthusiasm and this was a good team win, but we know we are going to have to be prepared to play Humboldt State tomorrow."
The Western Oregon women's basketball team will continue play in the WOU/Phoenix Inn D2 Shootout Saturday, Nov. 22, when it faces Humboldt State at 3:00 p.m. Humboldt State won earlier in the tournament 77-55 over Saint Martin's.
