BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University junior guard Maddison Coleman scored a game-high 17 points, including a clutch 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, to lead the Vikings to a 69-66 victory over Western Colorado University Friday night in a non-conference women's basketball game on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
Making its 2019-20 home debut after playing the first four games of the season on the road, the Vikings held off a late charge by the Mountaineers to record the win improving to 3-2 on the season. WWU led 58-47 at the end of the third quarter, but Western Colorado used a 12-0 run to pull to within one point four different times. The Vikings always had an answer to record the third win this season by four-or-fewer points.
WCU had a chance to tie the game with 5.1 seconds remaining, but guard Hannah Cooper hit one-of-two free throws to keep the Vikings ahead 67-66. WWU sophomore forward Katrina Gimmaka made both of her free throws with 1.5 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Coleman, a junior college transfer from Sacramento City College, came off the bench to scored her 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting. She was 3-for-6 from 3-point range, including hitting a big 3-pointer with 54-seconds remaining to give the Vikings a 67-63 lead.
Senior center Anna Schwecke added 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocked shots and sophomore guard Avery Dykstra had an all-around solid game with 8 points (4-for-6 FG), 3 rebounds, 3 steals and a pair of assists.
The Vikings recorded 16 steals in the game, with junior guards Emma Duff and Dani Iwami each recording five steals.
WWU was without the services of leading scorer forward Kelsey Rogers for most of the game, after the 6-1 forward went down with an injury early in the first quarter.
The Mountaineers were led by 15 points from guard Taytem Coleman (5-for-9 FG) and 12 points form guard Samantha Coleman (4-for-8 FG).
WWU shot 45.9% from the field for the game (28-for-61) and was 10-for-16 from the free throw line. Western Colorado shot 47.2% connecting on 25-of-53 shots and was 5-for-15 from 3-point range.
The Vikings went on a 13-5 run at the end of the 3rd quarter, turning a 3-point lead at 45-42 into an 11-point advantage at 58-47. Avery Dykstra fueled the extended run with a 6 points. Western Colorado scored 12 consecutive points over a four-minute stretch in the fourth quarter, but never retook the lead.
WWU held a 39-36 lead at the half, with the Vikings leading for a majority of the first 20 minutes of the contest. WCU did hold a 21-19 lead after the first quarter, using an 11-5 run to take the 2-point lead. The Vikings answered with a 20-point second quarter, which included a 6-0 run to lead 31-26. Maddison Coleman led WWU with 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting and Anna Schwecke had 9 points on 4-for-6 shooting. Taytem Coleman led the Mountaineers with 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting in the half.
The Vikings are right back in action Saturday night hosting the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (1-4) Saturday night with tip-off at 7 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. UCCS was defeated 81-79 in overtime at Simon Fraser Friday night.
More information on WWU Basketball 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 11 seasons, and 34 times in the 48-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 21 seasons at the Division II level with two trips to the Final Four. The program has 1,025 all-time wins in the 48-year history of the program, and according to available records, is one of just 16 women's college basketball team across all divisions and levels to reach the milestone.
