The WWU women's basketball team (10-4, 4-2 GNAC) returns to the road this week with conference games at Central Washington on Thursday in Ellensburg (5:15 pm) and Saturday in Nampa, Idaho vs. Northwest Nazarene (7:30 pm MT/6:30 pm PT). Both away games will stream live online with links available at GNAC.tv.

 

The Vikings enter play this week with an overall 10-4 record with an 8-2 mark in the last 10 games and a current three-game winning streak. WWU is 4-2 in GNAC play to sit alone in fourth place. Overall are 5-0 in home games this season in Carver Gym (5-4 in away games).

 

 

The Vikings recorded a pair of home wins last week, 93-47 over Saint Martin's and 73-60 against Seattle Pacific. Junior guard Emma Duff led WWU averaging 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, including a game-high 18 points in the win over SPU. Duff shot 65.7% (11-for-17) combined in the two games. Senior center Anna Schwecke added 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and senior point guard Lexie Bland averaged 12.0 points and 2.5 steals/game.

 

WWU has had great success in the opening 20 minutes of games this season, out-scoring opponents 550-375 while shooting 48.1% (218-for-453). The Vikings have out-scored teams by a much closer margin 471-447 in the second half, with a 41.8% (182-for-435) mark from the field. WWU has held a lead at the half in 12 of 14 games this season.

THIS WEEK IN WWU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Thursday, January 16	Live Coverage
at Central Washington (8-6, 3-3)  »  5:15 pm  »  Ellensburg, WA (Nicholson Pavilion)	📊 LiveStats   🎥 Webcast
Saturday, January 18	Live Coverage
at Northwest Nazarene (10-4, 5-1)  »  7:30 pm MT  »  Nampa, ID (Johnson Center)	📊 LiveStats   🎥 Webcast
All webcasts streamed via WWUVikings.com/Live and the GNAC channel on ROKU, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV & YouTube
WEEKLY REPORT IN PDF FORMAT

 

Head coach Carmen Dolfo recorded her 600^th career win on Jan. 11 vs. Seattle Pacific, in her 840^thcareer game (.714 winning pct.). Dolfo became the 36^th active NCAA women's head coach across all divisions to join the 600-win club and is one of 73 women's coaches all-time in NCAA history to reach the milestone. She is also the 8^th active NCAA II coach with 600 career wins and the 17^th all-time at the NCAA Division II level.

W🏀| With that win Coach Carmen Dolfo now has 600 career wins (and counting!) We want to congratulate Carmen for this incredible achievement. 

CONGRATULATIONS COACH! YOU'VE EARNED IT! pic.twitter.com/tAJlpRfhui
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) January 12, 2020

·         West Region Rankings – Moved up to 8^th in the D2SIDA West Region Media Poll.

·         Welcome Home – Lexie Bland is an Ellensburg native playing in her final game in her hometown on Thursday.

·         What Remains – 14 regular-season games remaining, all in GNAC play (7 at home, 7 on the road).

·         GNAC Standings – 4^th in the conference standings with 4-2 GNAC record (won 3 straight).

·         Strangers at Home – Played only five home games (5-0), the fewest home games by any GNAC school.

·         Balanced Offense – Eight players are averaging at least 5.0 points, led by 12.9 ppg from Anna Schwecke…had five players score in double-digits in each of last two games.

·         Close Defeats – Three of four defeats have been by 4-or-fewer points (all single-digit losses).

·         Cleaning the Glass – Outrebounded opponents in 12 of 14 games (leads GNAC with +8.9 reb margin)…top rebounding team in the league averaging 40.9 boards per game.

·         Scoring Offense – 3^rd in the GNAC averaging 74.0 points per game (avg. 66.0 points/game in 2018-19).

·         Defensive – 2^nd in GNAC holding opponents to 60.0 points per game (UAA is 1^st at 52.0).

·         Sharp Shooters – Shooting 44.7% (405-for-906) to lead the GNAC (40^th in NCAA II) in FG%.

·         Dishing it Out – 4^th in NCAA II and leads the GNAC averaging 18.9 assists per game.

·         Schwecke FG% - Anna Schwecke has a career 55.1 FG% (304-for-552), 6^th-best in GNAC history.

·         Scoring & Rebounding Leader – Anna Schwecke ranks 10^th in the GNAC averaging 12.9 points/game and is 7^th with 6.8 rebounds/game, both team-leading marks.

·         Not Very Bland – Lexie Bland is averaging 11.3 points and 3.7 assists per game over last three games.

·         Big Block – WWU leads the GNAC and ranks 13^th in NCAA II averaging 5.0 blocked shots per game.

·         Olson's Assists – Mollie Olson leads the team and is 5^th in the GNAC averaging 4.2 assists per game.

·         Dangerous Duff – Emma Duff has scored in double-digits in 6 of 14 games, averaging 10.6 points/game.

·         The Decade – Finished the 2010-19 decade with a 213-85 record for a .715 winning pct.

·         The Head Coach – Carmen Dolfo is in her 29^th season leading the Vikings and has 600 career wins.

 

Here is a look at the series history between the Vikings and this week's opponents:

 

·         Central Washington – WWU leads the all-time series vs. CWU 94-14, but the Wildcats have won three of the last four over the last two seasons…Vikings have lost last two games in Ellensburg after winning 14 consecutive games in Nicholson Pavilion.

·         Northwest Nazarene – WWU leads the all-time series vs. NNU 30-14, but have dropped the last five games vs. the Nighthawks…11-8 all-time in road games vs. NNU in the Johnson Sports Center.

 

Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings heading into this week's action:

 

 

Senior center Anna Schwecke has scored 940 points in 105 career collegiate games, with 766 of those points coming in 72 games with WWU (10.6 ppg). She played her freshman season at Colorado-Colorado Springs (174 points) and is now 60 points shy of 1,000 for her collegiate career.

 

The Vikings have played only five home games so far this season, the fewest amongst all GNAC teams, but are 5-0 in games played in Carver Gym. WWU is 482-90 (.843) all-time in Carver Gym, with head coach Carmen Dolfo leading the team to a 288-57 (.835) record in the on-campus facility.

 

Senior guard Lexie Bland, senior center Anna Schwecke and junior forward Kelsey Rogers were selected to the 15-player Preseason All-GNAC team that was voted on by the conference's 11 head coaches. WWU led the GNAC with three selections to the preseason team.

 

The Vikings were picked to finish 2nd in the 2019-20 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll. The Vikings received 107 points, including three first-place votes, to finish two points behind conference preseason favorite Central Washington (109 points).

 

The Vikings earned a historic victory against Saint Martin's (69-58) on Jan. 13, 2018 to record win No. 1,000 in program history. According to available records, WWU became just the 16th women's college basketball team (all levels/divisions) to reach 1,000 all-time victories, and is currently at 1,032 all-time wins with a program winning percentage of .733 (1032-375).

 

Head coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 29^th season leading the program, owning an all-time record of 600-240 (.714) to rank amongst the active and career leaders at the NCAA Division II level for career wins and winning percentage. Dolfo has led the Vikings to 16 trips to the NCAA Championships and a pair of Elite 8 appearances. She became the winningest coach in WWU Athletics history when she collected victory No. 519 on Dec. 3, 2015 vs. Alaska to pass former men's basketball coach Brad Jackson (518-279). WWU has recorded 20 seasons with 20-or-more wins under Dolfo.

 

The 2019-20 coaching staff includes eighth-year head assistant coach Stacey Turrell, along with graduate assistant Kayla Bernsen (2^nd season) and student assistant Zach Phelps (1^st season).

 

Two WWU women's basketball coaches have more than 400 career victories, with current head coach Carmen Dolfo amassing 600 wins and Hall of Fame coach Lynda Goodrich totaling 411 wins leading the Vikings for 19 seasons from 1971-1990.

 

All conference games during the 2019-20 season will stream live and feature live statistical updates atGNAC.tv, with home games 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.

 

More information on the 2019-20 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).

 

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 with 600, 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 1,032 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.

W🏀 | Winners of 6 of its last 7 games, @WWUbasketball moves up to No. 8 in the D2SIDA West Region Media Poll. 

The Vikings travel to play Central Washington and West Region No. 7 Northwest Nazarene this week. pic.twitter.com/rK3pJiz41i
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) January 13, 2020