Nov. 29, 2006
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - Behind a double-double from sophomore Karen Dawkins (Colorado Springs, Colo.) the Pacific women's basketball team picked up a 56-49 win over Utah State on Wednesday, November 29. With the win the Tigers improved to 2-3 overall while the Aggies fell to 2-3 on the season.
The Tigers got off to a hot start in front their home crowd as they opened the game on a 16-6 run through the first nine minutes of play. Out of the gates, all five Pacific starters struck for points with junior Kelsey Lavender (Lake Oswego, Ore.) hitting back-to-back three-pointers to cap the opening run at the second media timeout. Lavender finished the contest with nine points.
Down 10 points with just over 11 minutes to play in the opening half, the Aggies began to rally behind the hot hand of Taylor Richards who scored seven points in a span of two and a half minutes to bring Utah State within one point at 23-22 with just over four minutes remaining in the half. After a messy four final minutes, the Tigers found themselves down one at the break.
Out of the locker rooms, the Tigers were able to build a few small leads throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half, at one time pushing their lead to five points at 37-32 at the 14:40 mark. The Tigers looked to use their athleticism in the post to take advantage of the slower Aggies, pounding the ball inside to Dawkins who scored the Tigers' first eight points of the second half. However, for every push Pacific made Utah State pushed right back, evening the score five times throughout the half, even taking the lead for the first time since the halftime break at 49-48 with 2:37 remaining.
The constant pressure in the middle took its toll on the Aggies as Utah State saw its foul total rise rapidly putting the Tigers on the line late in the game. With just over two minutes to go Pacific used the charity stripe to seal the win as two pairs of free throws by senior Jerise Freeman (Wichita, Kan.) book ended a pair of short jumps by Dawkins as the Tigers scored the final eight points of the contest.
For the game, the Tigers were led by Dawkins who posted 23 points and 12 rebounds. Her 23 points, coming on 10-of-14 shooting, was one short of her career-best 24 points which she set earlier this season. In addition, Dawkins tallied two assists and a career-best four blocks. Sophomore Whitney Price (Las Vegas, Nev.) pulled down 10 rebounds, marking the third time this season the 5-8 forward hit double digit rebounds. Her nine points tied her caree-high set earlier this season.
On the other side of the ball, Utah State had two players hit double-figures in scoring led by Richards with 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Also shooting 50% on the night, Brittany Phillips posted 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
The Tigers will next be in action on Friday, December 1 as they play host to the University of San Diego at the Alex G. Spanos Center. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
