Women's Basketball | 1/7/2012 3:45:00 PM

Box Score [Box score]

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Rylee Peterson scored 26 points, including 19 in the first half, and added seven steals but in the end it would be a loose ball scramble that ultimately gave Western Washington a 66-61 win over the Western Oregon women's basketball team on Saturday, Jan. 7.

With the Wolves (3-13, 2-4 GNAC) leading 61-60 and less than 90 seconds remaining, the Vikings missed a 3-point shot and after the fight for the rebound the ball found its way to a wide-open Corinn Waltrip three feet behind the arc. She hoisted up a high arching 3-pointer which sailed through the net giving WWU (10-3, 4-1 GNAC) a 63-61 lead with 1:13 remaining.

Western Oregon would push the ball right back up the floor with a chance to tie the game but Peterson's deflected pass was said to have gone off the Wolves, and the Vikings reclaimed the ball forcing WOU to play the foul game the rest of the way.

"(On the 3-pointer) two of our kids went up for the rebound and kind of hit each other and the ball went loose. (Waltrip) picked it up and hit a wide-open 3-pointer which was the difference in the game," said Western Oregon head coach Greg Bruce.

WOU also got 10 points from Lorrie Clifford and eight points apiece from Jade Haas and Dana Goularte. Goularte was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 2-of-2 at the line. Haas led Western Oregon with nine rebounds. Waltrip posted 21 points to pace the Vikings.

"We competed very well today, something we have not been doing much of recently," Bruce continued. "WWU had been outrebounding opponents by 11 a game and we matched them rebound for rebound."

The Wolves also forced the Vikings into 23 turnovers and outscored them 36-14 in the paint, however, in the end the Vikings going 9-for-15 from long range proved to be the difference in a contest which featured eight ties and 12 lead changes.

"We did everything right today except with the game and that is the disappointing thing," Bruce explained. "Moral victories sound good but they don't do much for you. Hopefully we realize we can do this if we keep grinding it out in practice and get ready for the next game."

Western Oregon's next game will be Saturday, Jan. 14th at Saint Martin's. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.