Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Dixie State
'Cats Weather the Storm for 68-61 Win in Season Opener
11/14/2009 3:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
OGDEN, Utah -- The Weber State women's basketball team opened up the 2009-10 season on Friday night with a 68-61 win over Dixie State College at the Dee Events Center.
"We talked at halftime about getting to the ball with a sense of urgency," said WSU head coach Carla Taylor. "I thought that was the biggest key for us tonight."
The Wildcats scored the first nine points of the game, but the Red Storm surged to tie the game at 15-15 with 11:48 left in the opening half. Dixie State led by seven at 31-24 with 5:11 to go in the half, but the Wildcats made another run, this time a 10-3 spurt. Caitlin Anderson capped the run with a three-pointer to tie the game at 34-34 heading into the locker room.
"Basketball is a game of spurts and we had a couple of good ones," said Taylor. "They are things we can build on."
In the second half, the Wildcats would take the lead on a Joey O'Neill layup 36 seconds into the period, and would never relinquish the lead. The 'Cats led by as many as seven, while the Red Storm cut the lead to a single point on four different occasions but could never get over the hump.
Caitlin Anderson led all players with 17 points and 13 rebounds. The junior forward hit 6 of 10 shots from the floor and 4 of 5 from the free throw line.
"We talked at halftime about playing stronger defensively," Anderson said. "Our offense is always going to be there, but we needed to be stronger defensively."
O'Neill, Sarah Conner and freshman Megan Patterson each scored 12 points to join Anderson in double figures. Patterson's 12 came in 21 minutes off the bench in her first official collegiate game and included a trio of three-point field goals.
Tanya Clark and Amber Scruggs each scored 13 points to lead the Red Storm, while Shanae Vaifanua added 10. Vajae Robinson led Dixie State with 12 rebounds.
The Wildcats turn around and head out on the road to face Boise State on Sunday, Nov. 15.
