Box score, play-by-play
 
SEATTLE – The numerous double-digit offensive performances grabbed the spotlight. But it was their single-digit defensive effort that helped carry the day for the Seattle Pacific Falcons.
 
Katie Benson and Suzanna Ohlsen each pumped in 21 points on Monday afternoon, and Aubree Callen recorded her first career double-double as SPU pulled away in the second half to beat Dixie State in the final non-conference women's basketball game of the season, 76-66.
 
Junior guard Callen (Jerome, Idaho) had 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Her previous best on the boards was nine on Nov. 17 against Azusa Pacific.
 
Senior guard Rachel Murray (Eglington, Australia) added 10 points for Seattle Pacific, which improved its overall record to 8-2 for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
 



A big factor in victory No. 8 was what the Falcons did at the defensive end by slowing down 6-foot-1 Dixie State junior Johnna Brown. She came into Monday's game averaging a double-double of 12.3 points and 11.3 rebounds. She wound up with only eight of each, and got off just eight shots, hitting three.
 
SPU also limited 6-3 center Mandy Munns to eight points on 3-of-11 shooting, and four rebounds.
 
“Brown killed us two years ago (27 points, nine rebounds in a 76-66 Dixie State victory on Dec. 4, 2010 in St. George, Utah). So to hold her to eight and eight, that was a big deal,” Falcons coach Julie Heisey said. “I was really proud of Katie Benson on defense, and I was really proud of our post defense. That hasn't always necessarily been one of our strengths, but we did a good job tonight.”
 
Seattle Pacific returns to Great Northwest Athletic Conference play later this week, visiting Western Oregon in Monmouth on Thursday at 7 p.m., and traveling to Lacey on Saturday for a game against Saint Martin's at 5:15. The Falcons already are 2-0 in GNAC play, having beaten Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington four weeks ago.
 
Along with her 21 points, sophomore guard Ohlsen (Monroe, Wash. / Monroe HS) handed out a career-high seven assists. That bettered her previous best of five, which she had reached six times, most recently on Dec. 18 in a 97-59 victory at Notre dame de Namur.
 
Junior forward Benson (Snohomish, Wash. / Snohomish HS) also had seven rebounds. Her 21 points on Monday pushed her past 800 for her SPU career. She now has 814.
 
The Falcons built a 37-23 lead late in the first half before Dixie State ran off the final nine points to get within 37-32 by halftime. The Red Storm came as close as three at 41-38 with 16:52 left in the game.
 
But SPU put the next seven points on the board, with a lay-in by Benson, a mid-range jumper by Ohlsen, and a 3-pointer by Ohlsen. pushing it back to a 10-point margin at 48-38. Dixie never came closer than seven after that, and it was a double-digit Falcons advantage for the final 11 ½ minutes of the game, with the lead ballooning to 16 points twice.
 
Kaylah Miller led the Red Storm with 17 points.
 
Along with Callen's 13 rebounds, Murray and junior guard Mechela Barnes (Tacoma, Wash. / Bellarmine Prep HS) grabbed eight apiece. Barnes tied her career high, a mark she now has reached five times. SPU had a 47-40 advantage on the boards, the ninth time in 10 games it has out-rebounded its opponent.
 
“Dixie is a good rebounding team (the Red Storm average nearly 46 a game), so for us to out-rebound them was great,” Heisey said. “I challenged Aubree and Mechele to have five each, and they wound up with 13 and eight.
 
“Dixie's record shows .500, but they've played some tough teams. I feel like we beat a really good team,” Heisey added.
 
 
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Monday, December 31, 2012
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.
 
Seattle Pacific 76, Dixie State 66
 
DIXIE STATE (6-6)
Brown 3-8 2-4 8, Munns 3-11 2-2 8, Miller 4-16 6-7 17, Maxey 0-1 0-0 0, Giles 2-6 2-2 6, Spinks 3-4 0-1 6, Liana 0-2 0-0 0, Brugman 0-1 0-0 0, Gough 1-1 0-0 3, Hayes 6-12 0-0 13, Thomas 1-2 3-4 5. Totals 23-64 15-20 66.
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (8-2)
Murray 4-8 2-4 10, Benson 7-10 5-6 21, Ohlsen 7-15 4-4 21, Callen 3-11 4-4 10, Barnes 1-4 0-0 3, Bowen 2-8 0-0 5, Teng 1-4 0-0 2, Pflaumer 2-7 0-0 4, Stephens 0-2 0-0 0, Butler 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-69 15-18 76.
 
Dixie State            32           34           -- 66
Seattle Pacific      37           39           -- 76
 
3-point goals – Dixie 5-17 (Miller 3-11, Giles 0-2, Liana 0-1, Brugman 0-1 Gough 1-1, Hayes 1-1), SPU 7-20 (Murray 0-1, Benson 2-2, Ohlsen 3-6, Callen 0-3, barnes 1-4, Bowen 1-3). Fouled out – SPU: Benson. Rebounds – Dixie 40 (Brown 8), SPU 47 (Callen 13). Assists – Dixie 14 (Thomas 3), SPU 19 (Ohlsen 7). Turnovers – Dixie 18, SPU 18. Total fouls – Dixie 12, SPU 16. Technical fouls – Dixie: Brown, Coach Kristensen. Attendance – 201.
 
Records – Seattle Pacific 8-2. Dixie State 6-6.
 
Next game – Seattle Pacific at Western Oregon, Thursday, 7:00 p.m.