Box score, play-by-play

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – They were down to their final try – and the four seniors on the Seattle Pacific women's basketball team made good on it, and then some.
 
Senior guard Nyesha Sims logged a double-double of 10 points and 13 on Saturday, and sophomore forward Katie Benson pumped in a career-high 24 points, leading the Seattle Pacific Falcons to an 82-66 victory against Western Washington.
 
It was the first time since 2008 that the Falcons (5-2, 1-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) had beaten the Vikings in Carver Gym. It also was the first victory against Western in Bellingham for Sims and fellow Seattle Pacific seniors Jordan Harazin, McKayla Gorman and Joani Reimer.
 




In their three previous trips to Carver, the Falcons were on the short end of 84-44, 54-40 and 67-57 final scores. Conversely, those same seniors have been on the winning end all three years in Brougham Pavilion against Western.
 
“It's been frustrating coming up here. It's nice to win at their house,” Sims said. “It was frustrating the other night (in a 79-74 loss at Simon Fraser) because we knew we could have won. But having a good practice (on Friday) and having a good shootaround helped us come out and be really confident and start the game off really well. It was great to execute and get them back on their heels.”
 
Added head coach Julie Heisey, “It means a lot to (the seniors). They took pride in this game and they played like seniors, and that's a big deal.

Harazin (Colfax, Wash./Colfax HS) had 11 points; Gorman (Parker, Colo.) added seven points and six assists, and Reimer (Ferndale, Wash./Lynden Christian HS) chipped four rebounds, two points and two assists.
 
Sophomore forward Benson (Snohomish, Wash./Snohomish HS) beat her previous career high of 23, which she set two weeks ago (Nov. 19) against Harding.
 




The 13 rebounds for Sims (Portland, Ore.) tied her career high, which she initially set last Jan. 13 at Central Washington. It was her sixth career double-double.
 
“Nyesha was just dominating, even at the end of the game when she got a couple staels and Jordan found her down the court long, and she was able to score,” Heisey said. “Katie has been super steady, and one of her goals this season was that she wanted her teammates and coaches to know that she can be counted on.”
 
The Falcons led from wire to wire after junior forward Rachel Murray (Eglington, New South Wales, Australia) hit a 3-pointer to open the game. SPU, which played aggressively at both ends of the floor right from the opening tip, led by as many as 16 during the first half and took a 35-27 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
Western got as close as four during the second half, the last time at 45-41 on a lay-in by Kristin Schramm with 15:31 remaining.
 
But from there, Seattle Pacific went on a 15-4 scoring run to make it 60-45. Benson accounted for the first eight points of that on a lay-in and one, a 3-pointer from the left of the lane, and another lay-in. The lead stayed in double-digits the rest of the way.
 
“We started the game off like, 'We're going to win this,' ” Sims said. “The second half (started off) a little shaky for us, but coming in and being able to drive on them and execute and get to the hole and get calls our way helped us.”
 
The basket that made it a career-high for Benson came with 8:06 remaining when senior guard Harazin inbounded to her right underneath the hoop, and Benson laid it in for her 24^th point and a 62-50 lead. For the night, Benson hit 9 of 16 from the floor and drained all five of her free throws.
 
Seattle Pacific's hard-nosed play showed up especially on the boards with a 43-30 advantage, led by the baker's dozen for Sims. The Falcons also cut down on turnovers, with 16 being their second-lowest total of the season, bettered only by 15 against Cal State East Bay on Nov. 18.
 
“From the opening tip, we came out and really attacked and showed we really wanted to win, and I think we played the majority of the game that way,” Heisey said.
 
The Falcons are home next Friday and Saturday for the GNAC-CCAA Challenge in Brougham Pavilion.
        
 
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Carver Gym / Bellingham, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific 82, Western Washignton 66
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (5-2, 1-1 GNAC)
Sims 4-10 2-2 10, Murray 3-7 0-0 7, Benson 9-16 5-5 24, Harazin 3-8 2-2 11, Gorman 2-3 1-2 7, Teng 0-0 1-2 1, Ohlsen 2-4 3-4 9, Thralls 0-0 2-2 2, Callen 1-2 0-0 2, Kingma 2-6 2-2 7, Reimer 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 27-59 18-21 82.
 
WESTERN WASHINGTON (4-2, 1-1 GNAC)
Ramstead 1-3 0-0 2, Schramm 5-10 0-0 13, Harris 3-8 0-0 6, Waltrip 5-12 4-4 16, Williams 1-4 1-2 3, Feeney 1-2 2-2 5, Colard 2-10 2-2 8, Hill 0-3 2-2 2, White 0-3 0-0 0, Bernsen 0-0 0-0 0, Donaldson 4-7 2-2 11. Totals 22-62 13-14 66.
 
Seattle Pacific                      35           47           -- 82
Western Washington          27           39           -- 66
 
3-point goals – SPU 10-22 (Sims 0-3, Murray 1-2, Benson 1-3, Harazin 3-6, Gorman 2-2, Ohlsen 2-3, Callen 0-1, Kingma 1-2), WWU 9-26 (Schramm 3-4, Waltrip 2-7, Williams 0-1, Feeney 1-2, Colard 2-9, Hill 0-1, Donaldson 1-2). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – SPU 43 (Sims 13), WWU 30 (3 players with 4). Assists – 20 (Gorman 6), WWU 11 (Harris 3, Waltrip 3). Turnovers – SPU 16, WWU 13. Technical fouls – WWU: Bench. Total fouls – SPU 16, WWU 19. A – 605.
 
Records – Seattle Pacific 5-2, 1-1 GNAC. Western Washington 4-2, 1-1 GNAC.
 
Next game – Sonoma State at Seattle Pacific, Friday, Dec. 9, Brougham Pavilion, 7:00 p.m.