[Box score]
MONMOUTH, Ore. - Katie Torland matched a career-high with 29 points to lead the Western Oregon women's basketball team to a 69-58 home court victory over Central Washington, Saturday (Feb. 6).
The win snapped a three-game losing skid for the Wolves (9-14, 4-5 Great Northwest Athletic Conference), as they collected their ninth win of the year for their most since the 2002-03 season. Meanwhile, with the Wolves' completion of season sweep, the Wildcats fell to 6-13 overall and 3-6 in the conference.
Torland notched 18 of her 29 points in the second half to help the Wolves' extend a six-point halftime lead (30-24). She finished the game shooting 8-of-13 from the field, 4-of-7 from three-point range and 9-of-12 at the charity stripe, to match her career-high which she set last season against Western Washington. Sara Zahler added a near double-double with 16 points and a team-leading nine rebounds. The duo combined for 45 of WOU's 69 points.
"It was really, really good to see Katie and Sara both have a good scoring game at the same time," said Western Oregon head coach Greg Bruce. "We need that extra scoring."
The Wolves' defense was also a major factor in the win. It held CWU to 37-percent shooting and forced the Wildcats into 20 turnovers. WOU also limited CWU to 1-of-8 from behind the arc.
"I thought we did a good job holding Central intact," continued Bruce, "Overall I was very happy with the defensive intensity and the way the women competed."
This was the first win for the Western Oregon women's basketball team at the NPE Building in almost a month. Its last win at home came Jan. 7th against Northwest Nazarene (67-61).
"It was really good to be back at home after five consecutive road games over the last three weeks," Bruce noted. "We were happy to play at home and give the home folks things to be excited about."
The Wolves' next game will also be at home. They will battle the Montana State Billings Yellowjackets Thursday, Feb. 11th, at 7:00 p.m.