MONMOUTH, Ore.—Boasting five players in double figures in the scoring column, the Western Oregon University women's basketball team posted an 81-71 win over Dixie State on the first day of action at the Hampton Inn DII Shootout on Saturday.
The game represented the season opener for both teams. Dixie State will return tomorrow to take on Saint Martin's University (12 p.m.) while Western Oregon will host Cal State San Bernardino (2 p.m.) inside the New P.E. Gym.
CSU San Bernardino defeated Saint Martin's, 69-44, in the early game on Saturday.
Western Oregon doubled up the Trailblazers in the first quarter (21-10) on a
Maddy Pape layup and soon increased its lead to 13 (23-10) on a Taisha Thomas jumper. Dixie State generated the final two baskets of the quarter and kept the energy through on until the break as a Matti Ventling 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the half gave the visiting team a 34-33 edge heading to the locker rooms.
In the third quarter, the two teams found the game tied on five occasions and traded leads three more times with WOU eventually heading to the finale holding a 54-49 lead following another jumper from Thomas.
The Wolves continued to be aggressive in the fourth and were regarded for their efforts by hitting 18-of-20 from the free throw line through the final 20 minutes to prevent a late rally by the Trailblazers.
Overall, DSU outshot the Wolves from the floor, 40.0 percent to 37.1 percent, but failed to keep pace as WOU committed just four turnovers in the second half.
"I'm really proud of our focus and effort
tonight, it was a great team win," head coach
Holli Howard-Carpenter said. "We showed some growth and stayed composed down the stretch when Dixie made their push. Our ability to take care of and share the ball put us in great position to get this win."
Thomas led all scorers with 15 points and added six rebounds in the winning effort.
Jasmine Miller (12 points),
Sydney Azorr (11),
Shelby Snook (10) and Kayleie Boschman (10) also scored at least 10 points for the Wolves. With nine rebounds, Boschma ended the day one board shy of a 'double-double' while Snook was two caroms away from reaching the mark.
"We had a balanced attack
tonight and different people stepped up when we needed them," Howard-Carpenter said. "Tai got us off to a great start by stepping up and knocking down shots. Jasmine gave us great minutes off the bench as did Olivia giving us a spark in the third quarter. Sydney and Kaylie were absolutely dialed in, especially in the fourth quarter. Both did a great job on the boards and had some key defensive stops."
