LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team remained undefeated to start the season with a hard-fought 58-51 road victory over Colorado Christian University Saturday afternoon in the CCU Events Center.
 
The No. 13 nationally-ranked Vikings improved to 5-0 on the season and extended its winning streak to 11 consecutive games dating back to the spring season. WWU led from wire-to-wire in the seven-point win over the Cougars to conclude a five-game road trip to open the 2021-22 season.
 
CCU dropped to 3-3 on the season and had its three-game winning streak snapped while playing its third ranked opponent.
 
The Dykstra sisters – Avery and Riley – fueled the WWU offense combining for 23 of the team's 58 points. Avery scored a single-game career-high 14 points on 6-for-6 shooting from the field and was 2-for-2 from the free throw line. Riley neared a double-double for the second consecutive game with nine points and nine rebounds (had 10 points and 8 rebounds Friday at Regis).
 
Sophomore forward Brooke Walling added a career-high 10 rebounds to fuel the Vikings 44-28 advantage in boards. All 11 players that suited up for the Vikings scored at least one point, with freshman post player Truitt Reilley scoring a career-high six points (2-for-2 FG, 2-for-2 FT).
 
The Vikings led by as many as 13 points early in the third quarter following a 7-0 run out of the halftime break, but CCU cut the lead to one possession on a few occasions. CCU pulled to within one point at 47-46 with 3:56 remaining in regulation, but Avery Dykstra converted a driving layup to extend the lead back to three points. A three-point play by Carley Zaragoza with 3:13 remaining gave the Vikings a five-point lead at 52-47. WWU ended the game on an 11-5 run after CCU had pulled to within one point.
 
WWU shot 43.8% from the field for the game (21-for-48) and were 13-for-20 from the free throw line. The Viking defense limited CCU to 15-for-50 shooting (30.0%) and only 1-for-8 from 3-point range. WWU did commit a season-high 23 turnovers, leading to 23 CCU points.
 
Sydney Daniels led the Cougars with nine points on 4-for-4 shooting and Agnes Paul nearly had a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.
  The Vikings held a 22-16 lead at the half, leading for the entirety of the first 20 minutes of the game. WWU shot 35.0% from the field (7-for-20), but were stingy on defense limiting the Cougars to just 5-for-24 shooting (20.8%) and out-rebounded CCU 21-12. Both teams had trouble with turnovers, with WWU recording 15 and CCU 12. Avery Dykstra led all players with nine points on 4-for-4 shooting and Truitt Reilly scored six points on 2-for-2 shooting and hitting a pair of free throws.
  The Vikings (5-0) will finally make its 2021-22 home debut on Thursday, December 2 hosting Lincoln University of California on WECU Court in Carver Gym. Tip-off vs. the Oaklanders is set for 7 pm.  Fans can follow all the action live online or via live statistical updates with direct 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 623, 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 1,055 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.