Women's Basketball | 1/31/2009 11:25:53 PM

[Box score]

FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Whitney Chase, Shayla Corder and Sammy Nordstrom each scored 14 points as the Western Oregon University went on the road to defeat Alaska Fairbanks 62-51, Saturday, Jan. 31.

The win moved the Wolves to 8-10 on the season and to 3-4 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The loss dropped the Nanooks to 0- 8 in the league and to 5-12 on the year.

Nordstrom came off the bench to notch 14 points, grab a game-high nine rebounds and tied for the team-lead with five assists. Chase scored her 14 points as she went five of seven from the field and four of five from the free throw line. Corder was five of 11 from the floor including two of two from the three point line for her 14 points and matched Nordstrom with five assists. Sara Zahler also got into double-figures as she scored all 11 of her points in the second half.

"Shayla Corder and Sammy Nordstrom stepped up for us with some big shots and good decision making," said head coach Greg Bruce. "They both played extremely well and were able to help us soften their 2-3 zone."

Western Oregon shot 47.9 percent from the floor (23-48) while holding UAF to a 38.1 percent shooting clip. The Nanooks were also held to just two three-point baskets (2-12) as the Wolves went six of 16 from behind the arc. The Wolves also had an assist on 18 of its 23 baskets. Western Oregon also held UAF without a double-figure scorer.

WOU was able to come away from Fairbanks with the victory despite the GNAC's second-leading scorer, Katie Torland, being held to just four points, 13.6 below her season average.

The Wolves lead 28-21 at halftime but UAF continued to chip away in the second half and closed to within four points at 44-40 with seven minutes remaining. The Wolves then forced UAF into three straight turnovers and went on a 9-0 run. During the run Zahler made both of three-point shots in the evening and Corder had two assists.

"We should have put them away earlier but we got a little tentative and made some poor decisions against the zone," noted Bruce. "But all in all this is a road win and to get two this early in the season continues to show the progress of this program."

The Western Oregon women's basketball team will be at Saint Martin's Thursday, Feb. 5, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

"We have a tough one at Saint Martin's next week and we are going to have to get up for them and be ready to go," continued Bruce.