University of Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, January 8th. PHOTO BY MATT COULTER
BY RACHEL SHELLEY SPORTS EDITOR
The women’s basketball team stayed busy this
winter break playing six games since Dec. 4, 2014,
including three conference match-ups and sweeping
the competition during the Las Vegas Challenge on
Dec. 17-18. The Wolves finished up 3-3 before the
bulk of the conference play begins.
The first conference match-up on Dec. 4, 2014 the
Wolves beat Northwest Nazarene 70-68. Forward
Dana Goularte registered her fourth straight doubledouble
against the Crusaders and the Wolves shot a
combined 41 percent from the field. The Wolves had
three players in double digit points and took advantage
of offensive rebounding with 22 second chance
points. The bench combined for 18 of the teams 70
points.
Goularte scored a game-high 17 points despite
the loss against conference team Central Washington
on Dec. 6, 2014 34-60. The Wildcats snapped the
Wolves two game winning streak, allowing Western
to only two second chance points. Following another
loss to California Baptist University, the Wolves
traveled to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Challenge on
Dec. 17 and 18.
Western defeated Holy Names University (Calif.)
73-60 where center Emily Howey scored a careerhigh
16 points. The Wolves shot a combined 39.7
percent from the field and added 20 second chance
points. Western held the Hawks to zero second
chance points in the first half. The second and final
game of the Las Vegas Challenge the Wolves defeated
Dixie State University 66-53. Goularte surpassed the
1,000-point mark of her career during the game. She
also had a game-high 10 rebounds and earned her
sixth double-double of the season.
The Wolves last game to end the holiday break
was a conference match-up against Saint Martin’s
University where they fell 58-69. Although Western
combined for 40 percent from the field, Goularte was
the only to score in double figures with a game-high
19 points. The Wolves were only able to capitalize on
10 second chance points and two fast break points.
The bench scored 18 of the Wolves 58.
The team is led by Goularte who is averaging 16.2
points per game and 10.7 blocks a game. Howey
leads the team with a 55 percent field goal percentage
while guard/forward Sami Osborne leads the Wolves
with 86 percent from the free-throw line. Guard Jordan
Mottershaw is average 12.3 points per game and
shoots 85 percent from the free-throw line.
The Wolves welcome University of Alaska to Monmouth
on Jan. 10 for their first conference matchup
of the season at 5:15 p.m. Western Oregon leads
Alaska 24-16 in the history of the match-up’s between
these two.
