"Vikings women pummel Saints" -- Feb. 24, 2006

By C. Jennings Breakey
The Western Front

One game at a time — that’s what Western women’s basketball coach Carmen Dolfo relayed to her players before Wednesday’s game against Saint Martin’s University.

Western senior forward Kelly Dykstra and sophomore guard Elyse Hartman got the message.

Shortly after entering the game midway through the first half, Hartman elevated for a three-pointer near the Saints’ bench with 12:27 until halftime. The shot was the Vikings first field goal outside of the paint.

Vikings players then pushed the ball up the court in their next possession and dished the ball to Hartman, who cut and drove her way through the Saint’s defenders for a lay-up.

“I just have more confidence right now,” said Hartman, who finished with 16 points and three assists. “Coaches have been telling me, ‘You’re a good shooter — shoot the ball.’ ”

The 5-point run ignited the Vikings, 23-1 overall and 15-0 in GNAC, offense and lead to an 84-52 Great Northwest Athletics Conference blowout.

Dykstra pestered the Saints, 9-16 overall and 5-11 in GNAC, from her first lay-up in the first two minutes of the game to her last lay-up with 20 seconds left in the game.

She ended the contest with 19 points on eight of 11 shooting, five rebounds and three steals.

“She runs the floor well, very strong on her moves — a bunch of ‘and-ones,’ ” said Western freshman forward Claire Pallansch. “She’s money.”

Midway through the game the announcers told the crowd that West Region No. 1 ranked Cal State Bakersfield lost to Cal State Los Angeles that night.

The Vikings came into Wednesday’s game ranked No. 2 in the Division II West Region, and now might find themselves dethroning Cal State Bakersfield when updated rankings are released next week.

Despite the news, Dolfo wants her players to learn from Cal State Bakersfield’s loss.

“The fact is, it could happen to us in a second,” she said. “I hope we can learn from that. We have to focus on each game and each minute we’re on the court.”

Pallansch and senior forward Tina Donahue cleaned up inside against the Saints, working the boards for a total of 12 and 8 rebounds, respectively.

Western sophomore Liz McCarrell netted five of her 11 points from the free throw line, and chipped in two assists.

With Western’s final home game Saturday against GNAC No. 5 Seattle University, Dolfo emphasized the Vikings need to stay focused.

“You have to come out and realize that they have nothing to lose,” she said. “One game at a time, and we can not look beyond.”

Chris Joseph taylor / the western front

Western senior center Stephanie Dressel extends the ball out and over Saint Martin University junior forward Whitney Golob as she scores two of Western’s 48 first half points Wednesday night at Carver Gym. The Vikings won 84-52