Box Score
HTML Box Score

SEATTLE (Nov. 15) -- Senior Jessica VanDyke (Chester, Mont./Chester-Joplin-Inverness HS) finished with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, but the Central Washington University women's basketball team fell to Point Loma Nazarene University, 74-62, in the opening game of the Sodexo Tip-Off Classic hosted by Seattle Pacific University on Friday afternoon.

The Wildcats fell to 0-1 on the season, while Point Loma, a second-year provisional member of the NCAA Division II from San Diego, Calif., won its season opener.

VanDyke, a 5-foot-9 guard, posted her eighth career double-double. She had 13 of her points in the first half, making 5 of 7 shot attempts before the break as the Wildcats led for more than 12 minutes in the opening period but trailed 35-33 at halftime. VanDyke finished the game at 7 of 13 shooting.

Point Loma hit a three-pointer in the closing seconds of the first half to take the two-point lead at the break, but the Wildcats scored the opening points of the second period on a three-pointer by senior Ally Schmitt (Snohomish) and CWU did not trail again until the 16:54 mark remaining. However, that lead change was part of a 7-0 run for the Sea Lions -- and an overall 20-3 spurt -- as Point Loma pushed its lead to double digits at 60-47 with 8:23 left. The margin remained in double figures the rest of the way.

CWU finished the game shooting 40.4 percent from the floor, including a 41.9 percent efficiency in the first half. The Wildcats also held a 45-35 edge in rebounding over the Sea Lions, but turnovers again proved to be problematic for CWU, as they committed 20 with just nine assists. Point Loma had 16 assists to eight turnovers, led by an eight-assist (and 20-point) outing from Savannah Erskine.

Junior Courtney Johnson (Kent/Kentwood HS) finished with 12 points off the bench for the Wildcats, while senior Amber Moser (Willamina, Ore./Sheridan HS) finished with 10 points and six rebounds. No other CWU player had more than five points in the game.

In addition to Erskine's 20 points, Point Loma had three other players reach double figures. Jessica Escorza totaled 13 points, while Callie Rhoads added 11 and Erin Anderson totaled 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds off the bench.

CWU will wrap up its opening weekend at the tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m., facing NAIA member Montana Tech. The Wildcats then make their home debut next Saturday (Nov. 23) against Quest University (B.C.).