“We’ve had three (games) in a row just like that,” Healy said, referring to recent losses to Montana State-Billings, Seattle Pacific and now the Vikings. “We’ve been really, really struggling with self-confidence, struggling with our execution. We’re young, and it’s just a struggle.”
If it wasn’t for a first half in which the Saints could muster only 12 points, it might’ve been a different game. The 12 first-half points weren’t a season low; the Saints scored 11 in their 56-41 loss to Seattle Pacific on Dec. 31.
In the first 20 minutes against WWU, the Saints (6-9 overall, 1-4 GNAC) were plague by 5-of-24 shooting from the field (20.8 percent), went more than eight minutes without a point, and were outscored by Western 30-4 in the final 16-plus minutes of the half to trail 37-12 at halftime.
To their credit, the Saints forced the Vikings (9-3, 3-1) into 27 turnovers (compared to 22 for SMU), but a difference-maker was that Western turned more than half of its forced turnovers into points. The Vikings, led by Kristin Schramm’s 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting, outrebounded the Saints, 41-26, and shot 52.6 percent (28 of 53) for the game.
The Saints led twice in the early going – the last time at 8-7 on a bucket by Angela Gelhar – but things quickly soured on Western’s 30-4 run to close the half.
SMU outscored WWU 38-31 in the second half, when Healy said his team played “unintimidated and aggressive.” The Saints got as close as 51-36 on Megan Teade’s free throw with 8:33 left.
Marelle Moehrle, who started her collegiate career at Western, was a spark off the bench for SMU and led all scorers with 18 points – all in the second half. It was the second game this season for Moehrle, who is coming off a knee injury sustained last season.
Sophomore post Chelsea Haskey was held in check for most of the game, and finished with nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
MEN
WWU 76, Saint Martin’s 71: The Vikings gave longtime coach Brad Jackson his 500th victory, despite the Saints outrebounding WWU, 44-29. Jeremy Green led the Saints (5-9, 1-4) with 23 points, and was one of four SMU players who scored in double figures.
Brok Pendleton added 21 points, six steals and three blocked shots.
The Vikings (13-2, 4-0) had a significant advantage in points in the paint (42-26).
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com
