ST. GEORGE - In this post-Jessica Carver portion of the season, the Dixie State women's basketball team has found a way to win without its star forward.
"I guess our new motto is 'Let's just try to outscore them,'" joked DSC coach Angie Kristensen.
DSC threatened to crack triple digits for the second time in a row, ultimately missing by one as it fought back from an 11-point deficit to defeat Western New Mexico 99-98 at Burns Arena on Friday.
Shanae Vaifanua, a Hurricane product, led the way with a season-high 24 points and was the focal point of a pressing defense that sparked the second-half rally.
"I'm proud of her," Kristensen said. "She came back today from a funeral in Salt Lake - her uncle passed away - so for that kid to put up those kind of numbers is unbelievable."
Said Vaifanua: "I think just playing at home in front of my family and friends inspired me to play well."
Although DSC (3-4) led by six early in the first half, it trailed 49-41 at the break and was behind 63-52 about four and a half minutes removed from the intermission. A Lindsey Chettinger (18 points) turnaround jumper began an 11-0 run, which culminated in four Courtney Boyd (13 points) free throws. There was a four-possession stretch within the spurt where the Mustangs (2-4) had three turnovers and an air-balled 3-point try.
"I think we're a pressuring team, so if we can get in that type of game with people we'll be all right," Vaifanua said. "We buckled down and played our game instead of to the level of our competition. We knew that 11 (points down) was something we could (turn around) if we played together."
DSC made 49 trips to the free-throw line compared to 22 for WNMU. Both teams shot well from the charity stripe (86.4 percent for the Mustangs and 77.6 for DSC), but the disparity (35-25 in fouls) was striking.
"There were a lot of free throws," Vaifanua said. "Good thing we practice them."
When asked if any of her teams had ever made 49 trips to the line, Kristensen said, "No. We've been the other end, though."
She said she wanted her team to be aggressive offensively and it paid off.
"We knew they would hand check so we wanted to catch and go to the rim," Kristensen said. "I thought we were a little bit quicker on the perimeter so that's what I told our kids to do."
WNMU's Audra Major was a nuisance to DSC in the low blocks, scoring 26 points - at times, at will. She also hauled in 11 boards (five offensive) and made 11 of her 13 shots. Krystal Davis caught fire toward the end of the first half and finished with 16 points, but Kristensen said DSC made it a point to find her earlier during possessions to prevent open treys.
Brandi Harris added 16, while Sarah Wenze (13 points) and Whitney Polanco (12) joined the double-digit scoring parade.
DSC went ahead for good when Jessie Ingraham (12 points, five assists) made a pull-up jumper with 1:39 to go - without the benefit of a screen - to push the home team ahead 95-94. Free throws by Vaifanua and Tanya Clark (10 points, seven rebounds) made it a three-point cushion, then with 10 seconds left Ingraham sank a pair from the stripe to give DSC a 99-95 edge.
"It was crazy, but it's a good win," Vaifanua said. "We're excited about it."
