SEATTLE – Even one big scoring run by Western Washington can be tough to overcome.
 
But when the nationally ranked Vikings put two such scoring runs together, they are clearly in complete control.
 
The Seattle Pacific Falcons found that out first-hand on Tuesday afternoon.
 
SPU went toe-to-toe with Western after halftime, but a 10-0 scoring burst in the first quarter and 13-1 run in the second provided all the margin WWU needed to take a 75-54 Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball victory in Brougham Pavilion.
 
Senior forward Natalie Hoff had 10 points, but was the only Falcon in double figures.
 
The No. 11-ranked and conference-leading Vikings (16-2, 8-2 GNAC) were up just 12-10 beyond the midpoint of the opening quarter, but then put up the final 10 points of the period to build a 22-10 advantage.
 
Seattle Pacific (10-14, 6-8 GNAC) was still within 12 at 27-15 with seven minutes remaining in the second quarter. The Vikings responded by putting 13 of the next 14 points on the board on the way to a 40-16 lead. Through the first 20 minutes, they hit a blistering 56.7 percent from the field (17 of 30): 52.6 in the first quarter (10 of 19) and 63.6 in the second (7 of 11).
  
"They didn't throw any new wrinkles at us or any new plays – it's the same team we played up there (on Feb. 3)," head coach Mike Simonson said. "I think they've cleaned some things up. They came in and were very businesslike."
 
The Falcons then played even with Western Washington through the entirety of the second half, as each team tallied 18 points in the third quarter and 17 in the fourth. SPU also stepped up its shooting considerably, hitting at a 42 percent clip (11 of 26) through the last two quarters after going just 25 percent (7 of 28) through the first two.
 
 

"I want to applaud our group in the second half. I thought offensively, we were very aggressive, we got a lot of good shots, and we were very competitive," Simonson said. "However, you have to it for 40 minutes and not 20. Western is too strong of an opponent to be able to come back from that big of a hole."
 
For the day, Seattle Pacific hit just 33 percent (18 of 54) and only 28.6 percent (4 of 14) from behind the arc.
 
Western Washington, on the other hand, hit 51.7 percent from the floor (31 of 60). That included 40 percent (8 of 20) from 3-point range. The Vikings thus became the first team this season to top 50 percent shooting against SPU, which had been limiting opponents to 34.5 percent.
 
"Western is one of the top teams in the region for a reason," Simonson said. "They were able to get the ball to threatening areas on the court where they can shoot high-percentage shots, and we didn't do a good job of keeping the ball out of those areas. They got it to places where they felt very comfortable.
 
"Typically, we're a strong defensive team and we make the opposing team feel uncomfortable. But today, unfortunately, Western felt very comfortable out there," he added.

Senior guard Ashley Alter returned to action for the first time since Jan. 6. She was sidelined with an illness since then. Alter subbed into the game with 6:12 left in the first quarter. She promptly picked up an assist on a lay-in by Malia Mastora. Alter didn't wind up with any points, but did see nearly 15 minutes of action.
 
Tuesday's game was the third of SPU's four make-up games from January's pandemic-related postponements. This one was originally scheduled for Jan. 8. The final make-up will be next Monday at Western Oregon, tipping off at 5:15 p.m.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
--The Falcons did have one of their better days at the free throw line, draining 14 of 18. They earned four "and-one" opportunities, and converted three of them.
-- After committing 24 turnovers in a 59-40 loss at Western Washington on Feb. 3, SPU did a much better job of taking care of the basketball this time with just 10, although the Vikings did convert those into 15 points.
-- Natalie Hoff's 10 points pushed her past 600 for her career. She now has 603.
-- Emma Duff and Riley Dykstra had 18 points apiece on a combined 15-of-27 shooting for Western Washington. Duff also went for 18 in the Feb. 3 game at WWU.
-- Of Western's 75 points, 42 came in the paint, and 19 came on second chances. SPU has 22 of its 54 in the paint and seven on second chances.
 
UP NEXT
The Falcons are off on Thursday, then will host Montana State Billings in the home finale on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. It will be Senior Day, with a pre-game ceremony to honor Rachel Berg, Kaprice Boston, Bayley Brennan, and Abril Rexach Roure. It also will be the first game of a doubleheader, followed by the SPU men against Western Washington at 4:15 p.m.