Women's Basketball | 1/16/2019 12:18:00 PM

WHAT'S HAPPENING…the WWU women's basketball team (9-5, 4-2) return to the road for a pair of GNAC games on the I-5 corridor, traveling to play at Seattle Pacific (4-9, 3-3) on Thursday and at Saint Martin's (4-11, 1-5) on Saturday…both games are scheduled to tip-off at 7 pm.
 
THE RECORD…WWU is 9-5 overall and alone in 4^th place in the GNAC standings with a 4-2 conference record…3-2 over the last 5 games after opening the season 6-3…have gone 6-3 in Carver Gym, 2-1 on the road and 1-1 in neutral-site games…4-1 when leading at the half and have 4 victories after trailing at intermission…won season-high 5 consecutive games Nov. 17-Dec. 1.
 

2018-19 RECORD BREAKDOWN
Overall/GNAC Record	9-5, 4-2 (4th)
Home (Overall/GNAC)	6-3, 2-1
Road (Overall/GNAC)	2-1, 2-1
Neutral	1-1
vs. Ranked Teams	1-1
Leading at Half	4-1
Trailing at Half	4-3
Tied at Half	1-1
Overtime	1-0
By Uniform
White	6-3
Navy Blue	3-2

BACK AT ROYAL BROUGHAM…WWU makes its second visit to Royal Brougham Pavilion this season, playing in the Sodexo Tip-Off Classic Nov. 16-17…nearly knocked off UC San Diego in a 79-72 defeat (tied 35-35 at the half), a team that is 14-0 and currently ranked No. 4 in the nation…beat then No. 16 Azusa Pacific 77-74 in overtime on a Lexie Bland 3-point buzzer-beater.
 
INGREDIENT TO SUCCESS…the Vikings are 6-1 when scoring 70+ points this season, including a 73-61 victory over Western Oregon in their last time out…averaging 67.1 points per game to rank 7^th in the GNAC…WWU is 3-4 when limited to fewer than 70 points in a game.
 

THIS WEEK IN WWU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Thursday, January 17	Live Coverage
at Seattle Pacific  •  7:00 pm  •  Seattle, WA  •  Royal Brougham Pavilion	📊 LiveStats  🎥 Webcast
Saturday, January 19	Live Coverage
at Saint Martin's  •  7:00 pm  •  Lacey, WA  •  Marcus Pavilion	📊 LiveStats  🎥 Webcast
Webcasts via WWUVikings.com/Live and the GNAC channel on ROKU, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV with home games on YouTube

  A LOOK AT LAST WEEK…WWU went 1-1 last week in conference play, dropping a 70-62 contest to Concordia (out-scored 21-10 in the 4^th quarter) and came back with a 73-61 victory over Western Oregon…Kelsey Rogers led the Vikings averaging 19.0 points per game, scoring 22 against CU and 16 vs. WOU…overall Rogers was 18-for-33 from the field (54.5%) and averaged 4.5 rebounds per game…Anna Schwecke averaged 10.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game…freshman Mollie Olson scored 21 points in the two games, including a career-high 16 vs. WOU (4-for-7 3FG).
 
SOUTH SOUND HOMECOMING…Saturday's game at Saint Martin's in Lacey serves as a mini homecoming for a pair of Vikings…sophomore Emma Duff had a standout prep career at nearby Black Hills High School in Tumwater…freshman Mollie Olson grew up a little farther down I-5 in Napavine (40 miles south of Lacey).
 
HOME SWEET HOME…WWU is 6-3 on WECU Court in Carver Gym this season, including a 2-1 mark in GNAC play…3-2 on the road, including a 1-1 mark in neutral-site games…following this week's road trip to Seattle and Lacey, the Vikings return to Bellingham for a four-game homestand beginning with Northwest Nazarene (1/24, 5:15 pm) and Central Washington (1/26, 7 pm)…WWU is 472-86 all-time in Carver Gym for a .846 winning percentage, with head coach Carmen Dolfo leading the Vikings to a 298-60 (.832) all-time mark in the on-campus facility.
 
CLEANING THE GLASS…the Vikings have out-rebounded their opponent in 11 of 14 games this season and have the 10^th-highest rebound margin in NCAA II at +10.9…averaging 42.6 rebounds per game to lead the GNAC and rank 33^rd in the nation…Anna Schwecke leads the team and is 4^th in the GNAC averaging 8.1 rebounds per game.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW…all GNAC games, home and road, will stream live and feature live statistical updates at GNAC.tv, with home games also streamed live on YouTube…in addition to being available online, all conference matches are available via the GNAC channel on Roku, Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire TV…live links can be accessed through WWUVikings.com/Live.
 
THE HEADLINES…

• GNAC Standings – WWU is 4^th in the GNAC with a 4-2 league record (9-5 overall).
• West Region Poll – WWU is listed No. 9 in the D2SIDA West Region Media Poll.
• Scoring Leader – Kelsey Rogers leads the team and is 3^rd in the GNAC averaging 15.7 points per game.
• Rebounding Leader – Anna Schwecke leads the team and is 4^th in the GNAC averaging 7.1 rebounds/game.
• Mollie's Big Game – Mollie Olson is coming off a career-high 16 points vs. WOU (3-6 FG, 3-4 3FG, 7-10 FT).
• Crashing the Boards – WWU leads the GNAC and ranks 33^rd in NCAA II averaging 42.6 rebounds/game.
• Defense – Leads the GNAC holding opponents to a 37.9 field goal percentage (93^rd in NCAA II).
• Missing Iwami – Dani Iwami is likely out for the season with a foot injury…the preseason All-GNAC selection and 2018 GNAC Newcomer of the Year was averaging 12.1 points and 4.8 assists per game.
• Youngsters – WWU's active roster features 4 freshmen, 3 sophomores, 2 juniors and 1 senior.
• The Head Coach – Carmen Dolfo is in her 28^th season leading the Vikings and has 582 career wins.

 
SERIES HISTORY…here is a look at the series history vs. WWU's opponents this week:

• Seattle Pacific » WWU leads the all-time series vs. the Falcons 61-32…a senior-laden Falcon squad swept the Vikings last season winning 73-65 in Bellingham and 80-62 in Seattle…WWU previously had won five consecutive games in the series…WWU is 9-5 vs. SPU dating back to 2012…the Falcons are 4-9 overall and 3-3 in GNAC play this season…dropped last three games and 1-5 over last 6 games…Riley Evans leads SPU averaging 14.8 points  per game, while Cici West is tops in the GNAC averaging 9.9 rebounds per game.
• Saint Martin's » WWU leads the all-time series vs. the Saints 70-10, with a current 22-game winning streak dating back to Feb. 21, 2008…swept SMU last season, winning 69-58 in Bellingham (was the 1,000^th win in program history) and 79-51 in Lacey…WWU is 41-1 vs. the Saints dating back to 1998…SMU is 4-11 overall and 1-5 in GNAC play…Saniah Simpson leads the team and is 3^rd in the GNAC averaging 15.6 points per game, while Makenna Schultz (13.8 ppg) and Claire Dingus (11.7 ppg) are also averaging double-figures.

ROGERS LEADING THE WAY…sophomore forward Kelsey Rogers leads the team and is 2^nd in the GNAC averaging 15.7 points per game…has scored in double-digits in 12 of the Vikings 14 games, including 9 consecutive contests…leads the GNAC five games with 20-or-more points…also averaging 16.8 points per game in GNAC play to tie for 3^rd-most in the conference…among GNAC leaders also ranks 2^nd in field goal percentage (.577/97-168), 12^th in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and 4^th in blocked shots (1.4 bpg).
 

GNAC SCORING LEADERS		CL	GP	FG	3FG	FT	Points	Avg/G
1.	Collins,Hannah-MSUB	SO	11	51	20	53	175	15.9
2.	Rogers,Kelsey-WWU	SO	14	97	1	25	220	15.7
3.	Simpson,Saniah-SMU	SO	15	92	7	43	234	15.6
4.	Pana,Alexis-CWU	SO	14	74	31	32	211	15.1
5.	Evans,Riley-SPU	SR	13	62	33	35	192	14.8
6.	Wamsley,Marian-UAF	SR	12	69	2	31	171	14.3
7.	Swant,Sophie-SFU	SR	13	57	14	52	180	13.8
8.	Schultz,Makenna-SMU	JR	14	61	39	32	193	13.8
9.	Vezaldenos,Olivia-CU	SO	14	60	41	29	190	13.6
10.	Wandersee,Hannah-UAA	SR	14	76	9	28	189	13.5
11.	Cunningham,Taylor-MSUB	JR	10	47	16	20	130	13.0
12.	DeLonge,Natalie-WOU	JR	12	57	0	40	154	12.8
13.	Jones,Jessica-SFU	SO	13	57	39	13	166	12.8
14.	Albrecht,Avery-NNU	JR	15	63	18	47	191	12.7
15.	Wallace,Kylie-UAF	JR	12	56	4	33	149	12.4
16.	Flores,Kaelie-CWU	SO	14	69	10	22	170	12.1
17.	Dingus,Claire-SMU	FR	15	65	5	40	175	11.7
18.	Schwecke,Anna-WWU	JR	14	63	0	36	162	11.6
19.	West,Cici-SPU	SR	13	63	0	22	148	11.4
20.	Stavish,Vanessa-MSUB	SR	12	50	22	14	136	11.3

SCHWECKE'S BIG NUMBERS…junior center Anna Schwecke is averaging 11.6 points (18^th in the GNAC) and 8.1 rebounds (4^th in the GNAC)…tied for 5^th in the conference with three double-doubles…scored in double-digits in 8 of 14 games and recorded four games with 10+ rebounds (tied for 4^th in GNAC)…named the GNAC Player of the Week for Nov. 26-Dec. 2 after posting a pair of double-doubles in the opening week of GNAC play…over two seasons with the Vikings is averaging 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in 42 games (39 starts).
 
BUZZER BEATER…junior guard Lexie Bland hit the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired in a 77-74 overtime victory over No. 16 Azusa Pacific on Nov. 17…Bland's 3-pointer from the far corner bounced high off the rim and through the net for the buzzer beater to send the Vikings to the victory.
 
ROGERS NAMED GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK…Kelsey Rogers was named the GNAC Player of the Week, for games played Nov. 12-18…Rogers scored 50 points in WWU's two games in the Sodexo Classic, combining to shoot 71.4% (20-for-28) and was 10-for-10 from the free throw line…she scored a career-high 26 and tallied a double-double with 10 rebounds in a 79-72 loss to UCSD and added 24 points in a 77-74 overtime victory against nationally-ranked Azusa Pacific.
 
WHAT RETURNS…the Vikings returned 4 starters and 7 letterwinners from last year's squad that went 12-16 overall and 8-12 in the GNAC…finished the second half of the GNAC schedule with a 5-5 record, narrowly missing the conference tournament, with two of the defeats by two points…the 11-player squad for 2018-19 includes one senior, three juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen.
 
GNAC CHAMPIONSHIPS…WWU will serve as the host for the 2019 GNAC Championships, with the top six teams in both the women's and men'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.
 
A STORIED PROGRAM…two WWU women's basketball coaches have more than 400 career victories…current head coach Carmen Dolfo has amassed 582 wins while former coach Lynda Goodrich totaled 411 wins leading the Vikings.
 
GNAC STANDINGS…WWU is currently in 4^th place in a tightly-packed upper tier of the GNAC standings heading into conference action this week:
 

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL	CONF	PCT	OVERALL	PCT	HOME	AWAY	NEUTRAL	STREAK
Northwest Nazarene	7-0	1.000	15-0	1.000	8-0	5-0	2-0	Won 15
Alaska Anchorage	5-1	.833	13-1	.929	8-0	3-1	2-0	Won 6
Central Washington	5-2	.714	10-4	.714	6-2	2-2	2-0	Lost 1
Western Washington	4-2	.667	9-5	.643	6-3	2-1	1-1	Won 1
Montana State Billings	3-3	.500	7-5	.583	4-0	2-4	1-1	Won 1
Simon Fraser	3-3	.500	7-6	.538	2-2	3-1	2-3	Won 1
Seattle Pacific	3-3	.500	4-9	.308	3-2	1-5	0-2	Lost 3
Western Oregon	2-4	.333	5-7	.417	2-2	2-4	1-1	Lost 1
Concordia	1-5	.167	6-8	.429	1-2	3-4	2-2	Lost 1
Saint Martin's	1-5	.167	4-11	.267	3-2	1-6	0-3	Lost 5
Alaska	0-6	.000	3-9	.250	0-5	1-3	2-1	Lost 9

1,000 WINS…the Vikings earned a historic victory against Saint Martin's on 1/13/18 with a 69-58 victory to record win No. 1,000 all-time in program history…according to available records, WWU is one of just 16 women's college basketball team (all levels/divisions) to reach 1,000 all-time victories.
 
ABOUT WWU HOOPS…one of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, recording a 20-win season in 7 of the last 9 seasons, and 34 times in the 47-year history of the program…WWU has 20 seasons of 20 or more wins under head coach Carmen Dolfo, 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, and have 43 all-time postseason appearances…the program is one of just 16 women's college basketball teams across all divisions and levels to reach the 1,000-victory milestone (currently 1,014 all-time wins).
 
THE NEWCOMERS…WWU's four freshmen include a pair of local products in Nooksack Valley's Katrina Gimmaka (F, Everson, WA) and Lynden Christian's Avery Dykstra (G, Lynden, WA)…both were WIAA First Team All-State selections during their senior year in the Northwest Conference…freshman guard Mollie Olson (Napavine, WA) was also an All-State selection out of Napavine High School averaging 17.8 points, 7.3 assists, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 1.3 blocks per game during her senior season…guard Monique Fierke (Monroe, WA) made her season debut during the Viking Holiday Hoops Classic.
 
THE COACHING STAFF…head coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 28^th season leading the program, amassing 20 seasons of 20-or-more wins and a career record of 582-228 for a .719 winning percentage…last season WWU joined the elite ranks of only a select number of programs across all NCAA women's basketball divisions to record the 1,000th win in school history…Dolfo's coaching staff includes seventh-year assistant coach Stacey Turrell, along with graduate and student assistants Kayla Bernsen and Amanda Lance.
 
FOLLOW THE VIKS…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).
 
LED BY A LEGEND…head coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 28^th season leading the program…she owns an all-time record of 582-228 (.719) to rank amongst active and career leaders at the Division II level in career wins and winning percentage…Dolfo became the winningest coach in Western Washington history when she collected victory No. 519 on Dec. 3, 2015 vs. Alaska to pass former men's basketball coach Brad Jackson (518-279)…Coach Dolfo ranks amongst NCAA coaching leaders in several categories (rankings entering 2018-19 season):

• Winningest Active Coaches (All-Divisions): 36th (573-223/.720)
• Winningest Active Coaches (Division II): 6th (by wins), 13th (by pct.)
• Winningest All-Time Coaches (Division II): 18th (by wins), 27th (by pct.)
• Most 20-Win Seasons (Division II): 8th (20)