Women's Basketball | 11/9/2012 6:39:00 PM

Box Score

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Mariah Durian had 29 points to go along with seven rebounds in her collegiate debut as the Western Oregon women's basketball team opened its season with a 73-61 victory over Hawai'i Pacific in the opener of the WOU Phoenix Inn D2 Shootout on Friday afternoon.

“I was really proud of the way we came out and played on the defensive end,” head coach Greg Bruce said. “We had a lot of energy from the start and we did a good job of creating some easy baskets. It was a great win to start the season.”

After neither team could build a substantial lead throughout the first part of the contest, a 13-0 run by WOU to end the first half gave the Wolves control of the game. Trailing 24-20 with 3:30 left in the half, Durian scored nine points during the game-changing run as the Wolves managed to grab a nine-point edge at the break.

The Wolves run would continue into the second half as WOU managed to build a 22-point lead at 50-28 with 13:14 remaining as the Sea Warriors would get no closer than nine points the rest of the way.

The victory gave WOU its first win over a NCAA Division II opponent to open the season since 2000-01 when the Wolves defeated Sonoma State.

Dana Goularte posted a double-double in the victory for the Wolves with 11 points and 12 rebounds as WOU went to the line 45 times, converting 34-of-45 (75.6 percent).

The Wolves defense held the Sea Warriors t o just 20-of-66 from the field (30.3 percent) while forcing 23 turnovers. Amber Reade had four steals for WOU in the victory.

Seven WOU players had at least six points as Lorrie Clifford, Melissa Fowler and Kelsey Henry each had seven points in the win.

Heidi Anton had 15 points in the loss to lead Hawai'i Pacific. The Sea Warriors held a slight, 42-41, edge on the boards.

WOU will look to move to 2-0 on the season when the Wolves return to action on Saturday, Nov. 10, when they host Cal Baptist at 12:00 p.m.