Dec. 20, 1999
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Senior Jen Kerns (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) and junior Jessica Collins (Reno, Nev.) each tallied career highs in points with 20 and 12 respectively to lead Washington State to a 79-71 victory over Bowling Green, Monday night. Collins also recorded a career high four steals in her first collegiate start.
Kerns scored 18 of her points in the first half as the Cougars (3-5) raced to a 38-28 lead at the intermission.
WSU increased its lead to 43-31 with 17:54 left in the game before the Falcons (2-6) went on an 11-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Angie Farmer, who finished with a team-high 18 points. The spurt cut the Cougars' lead to 43-42 with 13:40 left.
The Cougars responded with an 8-0 run, sparked by senior Alke Dietel's (Halle, Germany) seven points. Dietel finished with a game-high and season high 23 points.
Bowling Green chipped away at the deficit and pulled within a point at 59-58 with 6:20 to play.
Washington State pulled away down the stretch by hitting 13-of-15 free throws during the final 6:20, including 7-of-8 in the game's final minute.
"It was a win," WSU Head Coach Jenny Przekwas said. "I would have liked to win two on this Ohio trip, but a split was a must. We needed a win tonight and we are looking forward to getting back home.
Junior Yvonne Volkman (Richland, Wash.) pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds and the 79 points for WSU was a season high.
Washington State returns home December 28 to host nationally ranked UC-Santa Barbara at 7 p.m.