March 8, 2008

Box Score

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Pacific women's basketball team clinched a first round bye for next week's Big West Conference Tournament with an 82-60 victory over UC Riverside on Saturday, Mar. 8, at the Alex G. Spanos Center.

The Tigers got off to a fast start, outscoring the Highlanders 13-2 over the first four minutes of the game. Playing in her final home game, senior Kelsey Lavender (Lake Oswego, Ore.) got the scoring going for the Tigers with a three-pointer. Junior Janae Young (Sacramento, Calif.) scored six points in the run to help spark Pacific. After taking the lead to 22-10 with 11:48 remaining in the half, UC Riverside used a 7-2 run to cut the lead to 24-17 with 8:20 left. Five points from junior Amy VanHollebeke (San Diego, Calif.) spurred an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to build the lead to 35-19 with 3:36 to go in the in first half. The Tigers led 41-26 at the break.

The Highlanders outscored the Tigers 5-2 to start the second half to cut the Pacific lead to 12 (43-31) with 19:04 remaining. The Tigers then went on a 14-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 57-33 lead with 14:44 left in the game. Young added five points and two assists in the run that put the game well in Pacific's favor. The Highlanders would not get closer than 18 points the rest of the way.

Young led the Tigers with 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Lavender added 16 points, while junior Karen Dawkins (Colorado Springs, Col.) scored 15 points. VanHollebeke had 11 points.

The Tigers out-rebounded UC Riverside 40-31, and allowed just three offensive rebounds over the final 30 minutes of the game. Pacific hit 16-of-17 free throws in the game (94.1%), the best free throw percentage in a game this season.

Tainoisouti Lott scored 15 points to lead UC Riverside.

The Tigers are next in action on Thursday, March 13 at the Big West Tournament at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Tigers will play 30 minutes after Game Five of the tournament, which begins at 12:00 p.m.