SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Led by a 23-point, 13-rebound double-double by senior Emma Duff, the Western Washington University women's basketball team stormed past No. 5 nationally-ranked Azusa Pacific 73-57 on Friday afternoon to open play in the CSUSM Hoops Classic.
 
WWU defeated the Cougars by 16 points and led by as many as 22 points in the game played in the Sports Center on the campus of Cal State San Marcos.
 
The Vikings improved to 2-0 on the season with the win over APU. WWU entered the game receiving votes in both national polls and listed No. 4 in the D2SIDA West Region poll (APU was No. 2). The tough trip to California continues tomorrow facing tournament host and No. 19 Cal State San Marcos (No. 3 in West Region).
 
Duff recorded her second double-double in as many games to open her senior season, shooting 8-for-17 from the floor and grabbed 13 rebounds. In the season-opening 68-56 win over Humboldt State last week she had 22 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Sophomore forward Carley Zaragoza contributed 14 points on 7-for-12 shooting, including eight points in the fourth quarter.
 
Junior guard Mollie Olson (9 points), senior guard Dani Iwami (8 points) and senior shooting guard Monique Fierke (6 points) rounded out the team offensive effort.
 
The Vikings defense stymied the Cougars throughout the game, holding APU to 10 points in the second quarter and 12 points in the third quarter. WWU held a 45-30 edge in rebounding with a decisive 19-10 edge in offensive rebounds. WWU shot 39.7% for the game (27-for-68) and were 7-for-16 (43.8%) from beyond the arc.
 
With the game tied 22-22 (the fifth tie of the game) late in the second quarter, Fierke hit a key 3-pointer that jump-started an 8-1 run and gave the Viking a lead they would not relinquish.
 
After holding a 30-24 halftime lead, WWU went on a 15-0 run over a four-minute, 19-second stretch in the third quarter to grow the lead to 22 points at 52-30. APU cut the deficit to 11 points going on a 10-2 run, but Western answered with a 7-0 run to put the game back out of reach.
 
Azusa Pacific had its perfect 3-0 start to the season snapped while being held to 37.0% shooting for the game (20-for-54). Paige Uyehara led the Cougars with 13 points on 5-for-20 shooting and Kayla Shaw had 10 points. WWU's perimeter defense limited APU to just 3-for-19 shooting from 3-point range.
  The Vikings (2-0) wrap up their Southern California road trip taking on tournament host Cal State San Marcos in the 3 pm game on Saturday. Fans can watch the action live online or follow via live statistical updates with links at wwuvikings.com/Live.
  One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, recording a 20-win season in eight of the last 12 full seasons, and 35 times in the 50-year history of the program. WWU has 21 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 620, winning 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 1,052 all-time wins in the 50-year history of the program, and according to available records, is one of less than 20 women's college basketball team across all divisions and levels to reach the 1,000-victory milestone.