BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team held off Western Oregon University in a 61-57 victory Saturday night on WECU Court in Carver Gym, extending its winning streak to five consecutive games.

WWU is now a perfect 9-0 in home games this season and has not trailed at any point in its last four games. The five-game winning streak moves the Vikings to 15-5 overall and remains in a tie for 3^rdplace in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference at 9-3. Western Oregon dropped its sixth consecutive game to fall to 5-14 overall and 2-10 in conference play.

In similar contest to the first meeting in Monmouth earlier this season, a 73-70 WOU victory in double-overtime, WWU built a big lead and was forced to hold off the Wolves down the stretch. This time the Vikings stalled the WOU comeback with clutch baskets down the stretch to record the four-point victory. 

WWU led by as many as 17 points early in the second quarter and had an 11-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Western Oregon used a 10-2 run to help bring the game to within one possession, but each time the Vikings held on to the lead. Junior guard Gracie Castaneda hit a clutch left-handed layup with the shot clock expiring with 10 seconds remaining to put the Vikings ahead by four points to seal the victory.

Junior guard Emma Duff led the Vikings with 12 points, shooting 3-for-13 from the field, and was 5-for-6 from the free throw line. Senior center Anna Schwecke added 11 points on 3-for-9 shooting and was perfect 5-for-5 at the free throw line.

Overall the Vikings shot 36.2% from the field, the second-lowest shooting performance of the season, connecting on 21-of-58 shots (3-for-15 3FG). WWU converted 13-of-16 free throws in what proved to be a deciding factor in the game.

Western Oregon was led by 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting by Keyonna Jones and 10 points by Tresai McCarver. Shariah Green neared a double-double with 8 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. WOU shot 37.0% from the field (20-for-54) and were 11-for-17 from the free throw line. 

The Vikings have recorded four consecutive wire-to-wire wins, never trailing in any of their last four victories. The last time WWU trailed was at the 7:34 mark in the fourth quarter in the 94-83 road win at Northwest Nazarene.

The Vikings (15-5, 9-3 GNAC) return to the road next week traveling to play at Seattle Pacific on Thursday (5:15 pm) and at Saint Martin's on Saturday (5:15 pm). WWU will next play in Carver Gym February 13 (NNU) and 15 (CWU) with both games at 7 pm. 

WWU improved to 54-11 all-time vs. Western Oregon and have won 22 of the last 24 meetings dating back to 2008-09. WWU and WOU each won on their home court to split the season series, with the Wolves beating the Vikings 73-70 in double-overtime in Monmouth on Jan. 2. WWU has now won 12 consecutive home games vs. the Wolves.

Here is a look at the updated Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings through games played on Saturday with the Vikings remaining in a tie for 3^rd place in the conference at 9-3.

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 604, 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 1,036 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.