SEATTLE, Wash. – Western Washington University sophomores Kelsey Rogers and Emma Duff both recorded career-highs in points, but UC San Diego used a late fourth-quarter rally to secure a 79-72 victory over the Vikings on Friday afternoon in the Sodexo Classic in Royal Brougham Pavilion.

The Vikings and Tritons were matched up in the first game of the tournament hosted by Seattle Pacific University. WWU falls to 1-2 on the season, while UCSD remained perfect at 3-0.

Rogers (Bothell, WA/Lynnwood) was 12-for-16 from the floor, and added a pair of three throws for her career-high 26-point performance. She bested her previous high of 21 points set vs. Concordia during her freshman season.

Duff (Tumwater, WA/Black Hills) was 7-for-14 from the field, and was 4-for-7 from 3-point range in her career-high 22-poitn effort. She also grabbed a team-high 9 rebounds to lead the team.

Junior guard Dani Iwami (Los Alamitos, CA/Seal Beach/Hawai'i Pacific) added 15 points on 5-for-17 shooting.

The trio of Rogers, Duff and Iwami combined to score 63 of WWU's 72 points.

The Vikings got off to a slow start, allowing the Tritons to score the first 9 points of the game. But WWU battled back going on 10-4 run to end the quarter cutting the deficit to 3 points at 13-10 through the first quarter. 

UCSD had another host start to the second quarter, building an 11-point lead at 27-16 with 6:31 remaining in the half. Beginning with a Mollie Olson layup at the 6:14 mark, the Vikings rattled off a 17-3 run over nearly a 5-minute stretch to gain a 33-30 lead. Led by 10 points in the quarter from Rogers, the Vikings and Tritons were tied 35-35 at the half.

WWU ended the third quarter on a 7-4 run to cut the deficit to 5 points at 53-48, but two quick layups by Rogers to open the fourth quarter brought the Vikings to within one point at 53-52. Iwami hit a clutch 3-pointer with 5:06 remaining to tie the game at 59-59.

After the under-five-minute media timeout, the Tritons went on a quick 4-0 spurt to take a 63-59 lead and extended the run to 10-0 to extend the lead to 69-59. The Vikings answered with an 8-3 run to pull to within 5 points at 72-67. UCSD pulled away at the free throw line for the 7-point victory.

Mikayla Williams led five UCSD (3-0) players in double figures, recording a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double. Brianna Claros added 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting and was 4-for-8 from beyond the arc.

The Vikings return to the court tomorrow taking on Azusa Pacific at 1 pm in Royal Brougham Pavilion. The next home games will be in the Lynda Goodrich Classic when the Vikings welcome the University of Mary, Minnesota Crookston and Saint Martin's to Carver Gym. WWU plays Mary on Friday, November 23 at 5 pm, followed by the Saint Martin's/Minnesota Crookston game at 7:30 pm.

More information on the 2018-19 season, including a details schedule, roster and quick facts can be found online at WWUVikings.com/WBB and via social media on Twitter (@WWUBasketball), Instagram (@wwu.basketball) and Facebook (@WWUwomensbball).

WWU will serve as the host for the 2019 GNAC Championships, with the top six teams in both the men's and women's conference standings at the end of the season qualifying for the tournament that will be held March 7-9 on WECU Court in Carver Gym. 

, who is the winningest coach of any sport at WWU and ranks among Division II active and all-time coaching leaders in wins, win percentage and 20-win seasons. The Vikings have reached the NCAA II Tournament in 16 of 20 seasons at the Division II level with two trips to the Final Four. The program has 1,005 all-time wins in the 47-year history of the program, and according to available records, is the 15th women's college basketball team across all divisions and levels to reach the milestone.Carmen Dolfo One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, recording a 20-win season in seven of the last nine seasons, and 34 times in the 47-year history of the program. WWU has 20 seasons of 20 or more wins under head coach

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