Gonzaga Coach, Top Scorer Honored

Einor Thorarinsson, the Gonzaga University men’s soccer coach, was named West Coast Conference coach of the year. Thorarinsson coached the Bulldogs to an 11-6-1 record, 4-2-0 for a third-place league finish. Last year, Thorarinsson’s first at GU, the Bulldogs finished 3-10-2. The turnaround was the WCC’s second best in league history. Thorarinsson also is the coach of the Spokane Shadow of the USISL Premier League West Division.

Gonzaga forward Jeff McAllister was selected to the WCC first-team. McAllister led the league in points for most of the season and finished with 31. Leighton O’Brien, a forward from the University of San Diego, totaled 33 points and earned player of the year honors.

Gonzaga sophomore goalkeeper Jeff Fouts was selected to the second team. Fouts finished with 63 saves and allowed .87 goals per game.

Eastern upsets Colorado State

Shana Ray and Tanya Kirk combined for 53 points as Eastern Washington opened its season with a 70-67 upset victory over Colorado State in a women’s basketball game at Reese Court.

Kirk, a sophomore from Spokane’s Central Valley High School by way of North Idaho College, had 24 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals in her Eastern debut. Ray, also a sophomore, had 29 points, six assists and four steals.

Colorado State’s Rams, who beat Washington State Friday night and are picked to win the Western Athletic Conference, tied the score at 58, but Ray scored four points and Kirk had two in a 6-0 run. The Eagles made 6 of 9 free throws in the last 1:40 to secure the win. CSU is the defending Western Athletic Conference champion and was picked to repeat this season.

Ari Skorpik scored 27 points as the University of Idaho women’s basketball team defeated Loyola Marymount 75-60 in Memorial Gym.

Idaho, 2-0, is off to its best start since the 1990-91 season. Loyola’s Lions fell to 0-2 overall.

Skorpik tied a career high in points on 6 of 12 shooting from the field and hit four 3-pointers.

Neither the Vandals nor the Lions gained much of an advantage until Idaho tightened up defensively and pulled ahead with a 14-4 run in the last 8 minutes of the game.

Freshman post Kelli Pilkington scored 29 points and had seven rebounds to pace the Community Colleges of Spokane past Mount Royal 70-67. Sophomore Misty Stark added 20 points. CCS improved to 2-0, beating the same team Saturday.

Lamb selects WSU

The Washington State women’s basketball team signed Tricia Lamb of St. John-Endicott during the early signing period.

The 5-foot-11 shooting guard was named Washington Class B player of the year as a sophomore, then helped lead the Eagles to 28 straight wins and a state title as a junior.

Lamb turned down offers from Idaho, Pepperdine and the University of Portland.

Rossland defeats Braves

Spokane’s Brandon Whitver and Jeremy Hare scored in the first period but the Spokane Braves failed to hold the lead, falling to Rossland 3-2 in KIJHL action.

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