FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Led by 22 points from sophomore forward Kelsey Rogers, the Western Washington University women's basketball team remained unbeaten in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a 59-57 road victory over Alaska Fairbanks Thursday evening on the Alaska Airlines Court.

WWU (8-3, 3-0 GNAC) led by as many as 22 points early in the third quarter, but had to hold off a furious Nanooks rally over the final 15 minutes of the game to remain perfect in conference play. Western has now won seven of its last eight games to improve to improve to 8-3 overall heading into Saturday's showdown with nationally-ranked Alaska Anchorage. The Nanooks dropped to 3-6 overall and 0-3 in GNAC play. 

Rogers (Bothell, WA/Lynnwood) led all players with 22 points, connecting on 11-of-20 shots for her fourth 20-point game of the season to tie for the most in the conference.

Freshman forward Katrina Gimmaka (Everson, WA/Nooksack Valley) added 8 points on 3-for-4 shooting, with sophomore guard Emma Duff (Tumwater, WA/Black Hills) and junior forward Anna Schwecke (Evergreen, CO/Clear Creek/Colorado-Colorado Springs) each adding 7 points. Senior guard Bobbi Westendorf (Auburn, WA/Kentridge/Tacoma CC) led the team with 7 rebounds in 12 minutes of action.

Overall the Vikings shot 38.7 percent for the game, going 14-for-32 (43.7%) in the first half and were 10-for-30 (33.3%) in the second half. WWU held a 38-30 advantage in rebounding.

The Nanooks had three players reach double-figures in scoring, led by 15 points from guard Angela Murnion and 13 points each from Sabrina Ungaro and Marian Wamsley. The Nanooks shot a shot a season-high 45.8 percent going 22-for-48 from the field.

The Vikings jumped out to a 22-10 lead through the first quarter, using a 15-2 run to pull away from the Nanooks. UAF led 8-7 with six minutes remaining the quarter, but a Kelsey Rogers jumper ignited the run to give the Vikings the 12-point lead through the first quarter. Rogers led the Vikings with 6 points on 3-for-7 shooting in the quarter, followed by 5 points from Avery Dykstra (2-for-3 FG) and 4 points from Gracie Castaneda. The Vikings shot 52.9% from the field in the quarter (9-for-17) and out-rebounded UAF 12-7.

WWU extended its lead to 14 points on a 3-pointer by Bobbi Westendorf with 6:48 left in the half. UAF hit baskets on back-to-back possessions, including a 3-pointer by Angela Murnion at the 4:51 mark to cut the deficit to 9 points at 26-17. But the Vikings answered once again, this time going on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 18 points at 35-17. Emma Duff hit a 3-pointer at the 1:45 mark and Rogers hit a late layup to punctuate the run.

After the Vikings grew the lead to as many as 22 points at 41-19 early in the third quarter, UAF went on a 11-2 run late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 12 points at 47-35. The Vikings held a 52-37 lead heading into the final quarter, and that is when the Nanooks stormed back. UAF out-scored the Vikings 20-7 in the final quarter, but couldn't complete the comeback as Western held on for the two-point victory.

The Vikings continue their Alaskan road trip on Saturday facing No. 14 Alaska Anchorage. The game vs. the Seawolves (10-1, 2-1 GNAC) will start at 7:30 pm AKT (8:30 pm Bellingham time) and can be followed online via live statistical updates and webcast at GNAC.tv.

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. 

If you can't make it to Carver Gym to watch the home games in person, you can tune in to VikingsTV to catch all the action…all GNAC matches, home and road, will stream live and feature live stats 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.

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).

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 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. The program has 1,012 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.

-- @WWUWBB --