OGDEN, Utah – Tigers win. The Tigers leaned on
Liz Smith and
Elizabeth Elliott as Pacific secured their first win in December with a decisive 75-62 victory over Weber State.
Liz Smith had a career night, scoring a team-high 24 points as she set a career-high in points and free throws made while Elliott recorded her first double-double with a career-high 10 rebounds.
Erica Adams led the team with four steals and played 36 minutes.
Diamond Richardson scored eight points off the bench.
The Tigers started slowly, scoring only eight points in the first quarter as Pacific settled into the game with a limited lineup. After the first quarter, the Tigers would outscore Weber State in the next three quarters.
Cecilia Holmberg hit two threes late in the second quarter to cut the Weber State lead to one point. After Weber State responded at the end of the quarter, the Tigers went into the locker room, trailing by only three points.
Coming out of the half, the two teams went back and forth trading baskets as the Tigers couldn't quite take the lead from Weber State. With just over two minutes remaining
Elizabeth Elliott hit a free throw to give the Tigers their first lead. A minute and a half later, after the Wildcats regained the lead,
Sam Ashby took the lead back for Pacific for the final time as the Tigers would not trail again.
"I couldn't be prouder of this team's toughness and resiliency," said Head Coach
Bradley Davis. "This has been a grueling preseason of road games, adversity on the road, and injuries. What we lack in experience, we make up for in competitiveness. This was a good team win to get that monkey off our back, and now we have to build on it. WCC is going to be a grind this year! But, for now, this will make the holiday break a little sweeter."
Heading into the fourth with a two-point lead, the Tigers started to pour it on, increasing the lead to as much as 16 over Weber State, scoring 30 points in a quarter for the first time this season. With
Nataly Dunka playing in the final minute, every active Tiger saw playing time.
The Tigers start WCC play with a trip to Pepperdine on December 30th. They will then be home for a New Year's Day matchup with San Diego.
