BELLINGHAM, Wash. – For the second consecutive game, the Western Washington University women's basketball team turned in a dominating effort on both ends of the court in a 46-point 93-47 victory over Saint Martin's University Thursday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

 

The Vikings improved to 9-4 overall and 3-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with their fifth win in the last six games. Saint Martin's dropped to 6-6 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

 

WWU scored a season-high 93 points, bettering the 88 points from last Saturday's 88-41 win over Concordia.

 

Western again put together a dominating defensive effort with 11 steals and 9 blocks, leading to 20 Saint Martin's turnovers and a 24-5 advantage in points off turnovers. The Vikings also had an impressive 29-5 assist-to-turnover ratio.

 

On the offensive side of the court, WWU had 10 players score points and a season-high five players reach double-digits. The Vikings shot 53.3% for the game (40-for-75) and were 11-for-26 from 3-point range (42.3%).

 

"It is our defense that gets our offense going…and we have been focusing on that," said head coachCarmen Dolfo, who is now one win short of 600 for her career. "We played up tempo, shared the ball well tonight and did a great job finding the open player. I am pleased with how we have bounced back these last two games, playing with confidence and playing together as a team."

 

Senior center Anna Schwecke and junior guard Maddison Coleman led all players with 14 points, with Schwecke going 6-for-8 from the floor and made the Vikings only two free throw attempts in the game. Coleman was 5-for-8 shooting and went 4-for-5 from 3-point range.

 

Sophomore forward Katrina Gimmaka added 11 points on 5-for-10 shooting and Kelsey Rogers scored 10 points off the bench. Senior point guard Lexie Bland added 10 points, 3 assists, 3 steals and 5 rebounds. 

 

The total team effort was rounded out by 9 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 blocked shots by sophomore guard Mollie Olson. Nine of the 11 players that saw action in the game scored at least six points.

 

Saint Martin's was led by 12 points from guard Tierney DeDonatis and 9 points each by Jayla Russ and Claire Dingus. Dingus led all players with 13 rebounds. The Saints were limited to 21.2% shooting (11-for-52) and were 21-for-33 from the free throw line. 

 

The Vikings scored a season-high 93 points while shooting 53.3% (40-for-75) in the game. A season-high five players reached double-digits in points scored, with nine players chipping in at least six points.

 

Senior guard Lexie Bland and sophomore guard Mollie Olson filled up the stat sheet with the following performances:

 

·         Bland: 10 Points (4-for-9 FG), 5 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 3 Steals

·         Olson: 9 Points (4-for-6 FG), 5 Rebounds, 7 Assists, 1 Steal, 4 Blocked Shots

 

The Vikings continued its first-quarter dominance, opening a 20-point lead against the Saints 27-7 through the first 10 minutes of the contest. Emma Duff got the Viking going scoring the first nine points of the game and Maddison Coleman hit a pair of 3-pointers to fuel her 8-point performance in the quarter. Western closed out the first quarter on a 16-3 run, which included an 11-0 spurt. The 7 points are the second-fewest allowed in a quarter this season by the Vikings, behind only a 5-point 4^thquarter by Concordia last Saturday.

 

WWU held a 25-point lead at 50-25 at the halftime break, with all 10 players that saw action scoring at least two points. The Vikings shot 55.0% (22-for-40) in the opening 20 minutes, including 10-for-15 (66.7%) in the second quarter. Kelsey Rogers led the Vikings with 6 points on 3-for-5 shooting in the second quarter. Saint Martin's was limited to 7-for-26 shooting in the first half (26.9%), including 4-for-14 in the second quarter.

 

The Vikings dialed up long distance in the third quarter, going 5-for-10 from beyond the arc while out-scoring the Saints 25-12. Overall WWU shot 10-for-20 (50.0%) from the floor in the quarter and was led by 6 points from Maddison Coleman. Western's stifling defense again shut down SMU, holding the Saints to 2-for-10 shooting in the quarter.

 

WWU closed out the 46-point victory out-scoring the Saints 18-10 in the final quarter of play. Katrina Gimmaka scored 5 of her 11 points on 2-for-3 shooting, including a long 3-pointer to close out the scoring in the game. The Vikings were 8-for-15 shooting (53.3%) and 2-for-5 from 3-point range.

 

Here are some facts and figures from the 46-point victory over the Saints:

 

·         The 93 points scored are the most by WWU since a 100-54 win over Alaska Fairbanks on Dec. 1, 2016…first time to reach the 90-point mark since a 90-59 win over Texas A&M International on Dec. 18, 2017 (90-59).

·         The Vikings recorded a 29-5 assist-to-turnover ratio, with the 29 assists a season single-game high…the 29 assists are the most since recording 34 vs. Simpson on Nov. 25, 2011.

·         WWU's defense forced 20 turnovers, which led to 24 points.

·         The Vikings won the rebounding battle 42-40.

·         WWU's bench combined to out-score SMU 50-11.

·         The Vikings are 4-0 in Carver Gym this season (4-3 away, 1-1 neutral).

·         Emma Duff scored the Vikings first 9 points of the game (9-0 run), but did not score the rest of the game…Duff tied for the team lead with Maddison Coleman with 6 rebounds.

·         Over the last two games the Vikings have outscored Concordia (88-41) and Saint Martin's (93-47) by a combined score of 181-88 (+93 points).

·         WWU head coach Carmen Dolfo is one win away from 600 for her career (599-240/.714).

 

The Vikings (9-4, 3-2 GNAC) remain at home on Saturday hosting Seattle Pacific in GNAC play with tip-off at 7 pm in Carver Gym.

 

WWU extended its winning streak over Saint Martin's to 25 consecutive games dating back to Feb. 21, 2008 and are 44-1 vs. SMU since the 1998 season. Overall the Vikings lead the all-time series 73-10. The two teams meet in Lacey on February 8 at Marcus Pavilion.

 

Here is a look at the updated Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings through games played on Thursday:

 

 

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 with 599, 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 1,030 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.