Women's Basketball | 2/6/2019 1:15:00 PM

WHAT'S HAPPENING…the WWU women's basketball team (11-9, 6-6) returns to the road this week for its annual road trip to Oregon…begins the trip Thursday night at Western Oregon (7-11, 4-8) in Monmouth and then takes on Concordia (10-10, 5-7) on Saturday in Portland…WWU takes on WOU in a 7 pm game, with Saturday's game in Portland tipping off at 2 pm.
 
THE RECORD…WWU is 11-9 overall and tied for 5^th place in the GNAC standings with a 6-6 conference record…5-6 over the last 11 games after opening the season 6-3…dropped 4 of last 6…snapped a 3-game losing streak with 66-36 win over Alaska Fairbanks in last game…7-6 in Carver Gym, 3-2 in road games and 1-1 in neutral-site contests…6-2 when leading at the half and have 4 victories after trailing at intermission…season-high 5-game winning streak Nov. 17-Dec. 1.
 

RECORD BREAKDOWN
Overall	11-9
GNAC	6-6 (T5th)
Home (Overall/GNAC)	7-6, 3-4
Road (Overall/GNAC)	3-2, 3-2
Neutral	1-1
vs. Ranked Teams	1-3
Leading at Half	6-2
Trailing at Half	4-6
Tied at Half	1-1
Overtime	1-0
BY UNIFORM
White	7-6
Navy Blue	4-3

 
INGREDIENT TO SUCCESS…the Vikings are 7-2 when scoring 70+ points this season…averaging 66.4 points per game to rank 8^th in the GNAC…WWU is 4-7 when limited to fewer than 70 points.
 
A LOOK AT LAST WEEK…WWU split its home series with the Alaska schools, falling to No. 11 Alaska Anchorage 74-55 and bounced back with a dominating defensive effort in a 66-36 win over Alaska Fairbanks…combined to shoot 47.5% during the two games (48-for-101)…Kelsey Rogers led WWU averaging 14.0 points per game…Anna Schwecke added 12.5 points/game and 7.5 rebounds/game.
 
UP NEXT…following the Oregon road trip this week, WWU returns home to host Saint Martin's (Feb. 14) and Seattle Pacific (Feb. 16) in GNAC contests in Carver Gym.
 
CARVER GYM…WWU is 7-6 on WECU Court in Carver Gym this season, including a 3-4 mark in GNAC play…4-3 on the road, which includes a 1-1 mark in neutral-site games…WWU has 8 games remaining in the 2018-19 regular season, with 3 at home and 5 on the road…WWU is 473-89 all-time in Carver Gym for a .842 winning percentage, with head coach Carmen Dolfo leading the Vikings to a 279-56 (.833) all-time mark in the on-campus facility.
 
CLEANING THE GLASS…the Vikings have out-rebounded their opponent in 16 of 20 games this season and have the 14^th-highest rebound margin in NCAA II at +8.9…averaging 41.1 rebounds per game to lead the GNAC and rank 59^th in the nation…Anna Schwecke leads the team and is 4^th in the GNAC averaging 7.8 rebounds per game.
 
TOUGH SCHEDULE…WWU has played four games vs. ranked opponents, and another game vs. UC San Diego (currently No. 2 in the nation)…is 1-3 vs. ranked opponents this season…via NCAA Stats has the 13^th-toughest schedule in NCAA II with past opponents recording a 227-155 combined record for a .594 winning percentage.
 
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 tied for 5^th in the GNAC with a 6-6 league record (11-9 overall).
• What Remains – WWU has 8 regular-season games remaining, all in GNAC play (5 road, 3 home).
• Scoring Leader – Kelsey Rogers leads the team and is 8^th in the GNAC averaging 14.3 points per game.
• Scoring & Rebounding – Anna Schwecke averages 11.7 points (2^nd on team) and 7.8 rebounds (1^st on team).
• Court General – Lexie Bland leads the team and is 11^th in the GNAC averaging 3.4 assists per game.
• Defensive Dykstra – Avery Dykstra recorded 6 steals and 6 assists in her last game vs. Alaska Fairbanks.
• Crashing the Boards – WWU leads the GNAC and ranks 59^th in NCAA II averaging 41.0 rebounds/game.
• Defense – WWU leads the GNAC holding opponents to a 38.9 field goal percentage.
• 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.
• Where's Bobbi – Senior Bobbi Westendorf has been out with an injury the last four games and has not played since a 9-point, 12-rebound performance Jan. 19 at Saint Martin's.
• 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 584 career wins.

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

• Western Oregon » WWU defeated WOU 73-61 on Jan. 12 in Carver Gym…trailed the Wolves 36-34 at the half, but out-scored WOU 39-25 in the second half…Kelsey Rogers and Mollie Olson both scored 16 points, with Anna Schwecke adding 15 points…WWU leads the all-time series 52-10, including a 20-1 record in the last 21 meetings (since 2008-09)…only loss during this span was a 54-50 defeat in Monmouth last season.
• Concordia » Concordia defeated WWU 70-62 on Jan. 10 in Carver Gym…the Cavaliers out-scored the Vikings 42-30 in the second half, including 21-10 in the 4^th quarter, in the comeback victory…Kelsey Rogers led WWU with 22 points…WWU leads the all-time series 12-2, including winning 5 of 7 since the Cavaliers joined the GNAC in 2015-16…were defeated in Portland last season 70-61.

 
ROGERS LEADING THE WAY…sophomore forward Kelsey Rogers leads the team and is 8^th in the GNAC averaging 14.3 points per game…has scored in double-digits in 16 of the Vikings 20 games, including 10 straight Nov. 24-Jan. 19…tied 2^nd in the GNAC with five games with 20-or-more points…among GNAC leaders also ranks 6^th in field goal percentage (.542/123-227), 18^th in rebounding (5.5 rpg), 4^th in blocked shots (1.4 bpg) and 9^th in free throw percentage (80.9/38-for-47).
 
SCHWECKE'S BIG NUMBERS…junior center Anna Schwecke is averaging 11.7 points (19^th in the GNAC) and 7.8 rebounds (4^th in the GNAC)…also listed No. 3 in field goal percentage (54.8/91-for-166) and 7^th in blocked shots (1.0/game)…tied for 7^th in the conference with a team-high three double-doubles…scored in double-digits in 13 of 20 games (5 straight) and recorded four games with 10+ rebounds (tied for 5^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 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in 48 games (45 starts).
 
WINNING THE CLOSE GAMES…WWU is 4-1 in games decided by 5-or-fewer points and is 1-0 in overtime contests.
 
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.
 
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 584 wins while former coach Lynda Goodrich totaled 411 wins leading the Vikings.
 
GNAC STANDINGS…WWU is currently tied for 5^th place in GNAC standings:
 

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL	CONF	PCT	OVERALL	PCT	HOME	AWAY	NEUTRAL	STREAK
Alaska Anchorage	12-1	.923	20-1	.952	10-0	8-1	2-0	Won 13
Northwest Nazarene	11-1	.917	19-1	.950	11-0	6-1	2-0	Won 2
Simon Fraser	8-4	.667	12-7	.632	5-3	5-1	2-3	Lost 1
Central Washington	7-5	.583	12-7	.632	7-4	3-3	2-0	Won 1
Western Washington	6-6	.500	11-9	.550	7-6	3-2	1-1	Won 1
Seattle Pacific	6-6	.500	7-12	.368	5-4	2-6	0-2	Won 1
Concordia	5-7	.417	10-10	.500	3-3	5-5	2-2	Lost 1
Montana State Billings	5-7	.417	9-9	.500	5-1	3-7	1-1	Won 1
Western Oregon	4-8	.333	7-11	.389	3-3	3-7	1-1	Won 1
Saint Martin's	3-9	.250	5-15	.250	2-5	3-7	0-3	Lost 1
Alaska	0-13	.000	3-16	.158	0-8	1-7	2-1	Lost 16

 
1,000 WINS…the Vikings earned a historic victory against Saint Martin's on Jan. 13, 2018 with a 69-58 victory to record win No. 1,000 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.
 
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 584-232 for a .716 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 statistics, 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).
 
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 1,016 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.
 
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.
 
LED BY A LEGEND…head coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 28^th season leading the program…she owns an all-time record of 584-232 (.716) 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 and records below are 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)