BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Sophomore center Anna Schwecke scored 12 points and grabbed 8 rebounds for a balanced offense but the Western Washington University women’s basketball team fell 78-62 against No. 3 nationally-ranked and unbeaten West Texas A&M Tuesday night in the Viking Holiday Hoops Classic on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
WWU (5-5) never led in the contest but kept the deficit within single digits for the majority of the game. The Vikings were within 63-57 of West Texas A&M midway through the fourth quarter before the Lady Buffs (11-0) closed the game with a 15-5 run for the final margin.
Schwecke (Evergreen, CO/Colorado-Colorado Springs) made 6-of-7 field goals for her 12 points and was joined in double figures scoring by senior forward Hannah Stipanovich (St. Louis, MO/MSU Denver) and freshman guard Emma Duff (Tumwater, WA/Black Hills) with 10 points apiece.
Sophomore guard Dani Iwami (Seal Beach, CA/Hawai’i Pacific) and redshirt freshman Gracie Castaneda (Arlington, WA) each finished with 9 points. Sophomore guard Lexie Bland (Ellensburg, WA) added 7 points and freshman forward Kelsey Rogers (Bothell, WA/Lynnwood) rounded out the scoring with 5 points.
West Texas A&M, a program that has advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament Elite Eight in the three of the last four seasons, grabbed an early 8-2 lead and led 22-16 after the first quarter. The Lady Buffs extended the lead out to 11 points on three occasions in the second quarter, the third occasion at 34-23 with 3:08 to play, before the Vikings outscored West Texas A&M 9-4 over the last three minutes to trail 38-32 at halftime.
The Lady Buffs once again extended a lead out to double digits at 48-37 with 5:56 left in the third quarter, but the Vikings responded and reduced the lead to 5 points twice during the quarter. WWU kept the deficit in single digits for most of the fourth quarter, cutting down a 57-47 advantage for West Texas A&M to 63-57 on a layup from Stipanovich with 4:39 remaining. But the Lady Buffs answered once again to go ahead 67-57 with 3:47 left and never let the Vikings within fewer than 7 points the rest of the way.
WWU went 23-of-51 (45.1%) from the field and made 7-of-20 (35.0%) 3-pointers, led by Iwami (3-of-8 3-pt FG) from long range. WWU also made 9-of-17 (52.9%) free throws, led by Bland who was 4-for-8. Stipanovich had a career-high 4 steals while Castaneda tied her career high with 4 assists.
The Lady Buffs shot 31-of-51 (60.8%) from the floor, including 5-of-9 (55.6%) from 3-point range. The field goal percentage was a season high allowed by the Vikings. West Texas A&M was 11-for-18 (61.1%) at the free throw line.
Viking Holiday Hoops Classic Most Valuable Player Lexy Hightower tied her career high for the second straight game with 21 points and had 4 steals, while forward Madison Parker added 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Center Tiana Parker finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Schwecke and Stipanovich were each named to the Viking Holiday Hoops Classic All-Tournament Team for WWU. Schwecke averaged 14.0 points and 10.0 rebounds over two games while Stipanovich averaged 13.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game during the tournament.
WWU returns to action at the end of the month, resuming Great Northwest Athletic Conference play by hosting the Alaska schools. The Vikings will oppose Alaska Fairbanks on Dec. 29 (7 pm) before hosting No. 2 nationally-ranked Alaska Anchorage (Dec. 31, 4 pm).
