WHAT'S HAPPENING…the WWU women's basketball team (16-12, 11-9) opens the postseason with a quarterfinal match-up vs. Simon Fraser in the 2019 GNAC Championships in Carver Gym in Bellingham…WWU is the No. 6 seed in the tournament and will play in Thursday's 2:15 pm game.
 
DIGITAL WWU INFORMATION GUIDE…you can download a digital version of the complete WWU Women's Basketball GNAC Tournament Information Guide by downloading the PDF version of the release.
 
THE RECORD…WWU is 16-12 overall and finished in a tie for 5^th place in the GNAC regular-season standings with an 11-9 conference record…finished the regular season with a 10-6 record in games played in Carver Gym and were 6-6 on the road…were 10-9 over the last 19 games of the regular season after opening the year 6-3…went 9-3 when leading at the half and recorded 6 wins when trailing at intermission…season-high 5-game winning streak Nov. 17-Dec. 1.
 

2018-19 RECORD BREAKDOWN
Overall/GNAC Record	16-12
GNAC (Home/Road	11-9 (T5th)
Home (Overall/GNAC)	10-6, 6-4
Road (Overall/GNAC)	5-5, 5-5
Neutral	1-1
vs. Ranked Teams	1-4
Leading at Half	9-3
Trailing at Half	6-8
Tied at Half	1-1
Overtime	1-0
By Uniform
White	10-6
Navy Blue	6-6

GNAC CHAMPIONSHIPS…the top six teams from the 2018-19 GNAC regular-season standings converge in Bellingham this week for the ninth Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Championships…from 2001-02 to 2009-10, the GNAC's automatic bid was awarded to the regular-season champion…since 2010-11, the winner of the conference tournament is the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division II Tournament…WWU is 10-5 in the GNAC Tournament, winning back-to-back championships in 2013 and 2014.
 
ALL-GNAC AWARDS…a trio of Vikings were named to the 2018-19 GNAC All-Conference Team, with Anna Schwecke earning second team honors and Lexie Bland and Kelsey Rogers named honorable mention…Schwecke was the first player listed on the second team, earning the most votes of any player not voted to the first team.
   
THIRD TIME VS. SFU…the Vikings are facing Simon Fraser for the third time this season, already posting a 2-0 record vs. the Clan this season…defeated SFU in Burnaby 70-62 on Nov. 27 and won 67-49 on Feb. 26 in Carver Gym…WWU has won 8 of the last 9 in the series vs. SFU.
 
$CHWECKE…Anna Schwecke recorded a 26-point, 19-rebound double-double vs. Simon Fraser on Feb. 26…just missed the first 20-rebound game by a Viking during the 21-season NCAA era…most rebounds by a GNAC player this season…Schwecke is averaging 11.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season…in four career games vs. SFU, Schwecke has totaled 89 points (22.5 points/game), 55 rebounds (13.8 rebounds/game) and is shooting 73.7% (42-for-57).
 
GETTING DEFENSIVE…the Vikings have limited opponents to 55.6 points per game over the last 9 games…leads the GNAC with an opponent field goal percentage of 33.6 (164-for-488)…in the last two regular season games, held SFU and MSUB to 16-for-60 shooting (26.7%) in each game…for the season, WWU leads the GNAC and is 68^th in NCAA II holding opponents to a 37.7 FG%.
 
CLEANING THE GLASS…the Vikings have out-rebounded their opponent in 22 of 28 games this season and have the 20^th-best rebound margin in NCAA II at +8.1…averaging 40.4 rebounds per game to lead the GNAC and rank 68^th in the nation…Anna Schwecke leads the team and is 4^th in the GNAC averaging 8.0 rebounds per game.
 
THE HEADLINES…

• GNAC Championships – WWU is the No. 6 seed in the GNAC Championships and will face No. 3 SFU.
• Crashing the Boards – WWU leads the GNAC and ranks 68^th in NCAA II averaging 40.4 rebounds/game.
• Defense – WWU leads the GNAC holding opponents to a 37.7 field goal percentage.
• Efficient Anna – Anna Schwecke leads the GNAC shooting 57.2% (135-for-236) this season..
• Court General – Lexie Bland leads the team and is 10^th in the GNAC averaging 3.4 assists per game.
• Duff Comes Alive – Emma Duff has scored in double-figures in 9 of her last 12 games (4 of 5).
• 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 589 career wins.

SCHWECKE'S BIG NUMBERS…junior center Anna Schwecke is averaging 11.9 points (16^th in the GNAC) and 8.0 rebounds (4^th in the GNAC)…also has the top field goal percentage in the league at 57.2% (135-for-236) and is also 5^th in blocked shots (1.1/game)…leads the team and is tied for 5^th in the conference with five double-doubles…scored in double-digits in 19 of 28 games, including 11 of last 13 regular-season games…earned Second Team All-GNAC honors and was 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 10.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in 56 games (53 starts).
 
ROGERS LEADING THE WAY…sophomore forward Kelsey Rogers leads the team and is 14^th in the GNAC averaging 12.0 points per game…has scored in double-digits in 18 of the Vikings 28 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 9^th in field goal percentage (.512/144-281), 22^nd  in rebounding (5.0 rpg) and 4^th in blocked shots (1.2 bpg).
 
DOUBLE-DIGIT DUFF…Emma Duff has scored in double-digits in 9 of the last 12 games, averaging 12.6 points per game over this stretch…for the season is averaging 9.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while starting 27 of 28 games.
 
BLAND FILLING THE STAT SHEET…Lexie Bland has been filling up the stat sheet recently, averaging 13.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game over her last 6 games…scored 20 points in back-to-back games at CWU (2/21) and NNU (2/23).
 
CARVER GYM…WWU is 10-6 on WECU Court in Carver Gym this season, including a 6-4 mark in GNAC play…6-6 on the road, which includes a 1-1 mark in neutral-site games…WWU is 476-89 all-time in Carver Gym for a .842 winning percentage, with head coach Carmen Dolfo leading the Vikings to a 282-56 (.834) all-time mark in the on-campus facility.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW…all games during the GNAC Championships will stream live and feature live statistical updates at GNAC.tv, and also on YouTube with rewind capability…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.
 
A STORIED PROGRAM…two WWU women's basketball coaches have more than 400 career victories…current head coach Carmen Dolfo has amassed 589 wins while former coach Lynda Goodrich totaled 411 wins leading the Vikings.
 
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 589-235 for a .715 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.
   
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, and is currently at 1,021 all-time wins.
 
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.
 
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).
 
LED BY A LEGEND…head coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 28^th season leading the program…she owns an all-time record of 589-235 (.715) 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)

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 1,021 all-time wins).