LACEY, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team made its long-awaited 2020-21 debut and delivered a thrilling 58-54 victory over Saint Martin's University Friday evening in Marcus Pavilion.
 
Playing for the first time in nearly a full calendar year - 356 days since the 2020 GNAC Championships Final – the Vikings got off to a blistering start building a lead to as many as 18 points, and then played tough defense down the stretch for the narrow four-point victory over the Saints (5-5).
 
Junior guard Mollie Olson (Napavine, WA) scored a career-high 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting and senior forward Kelsey Rogers (Bothell, WA/Lynnwood) added 9 points and 4 rebounds.
 
Western built a sizable lead with a 19-5 run that spanned the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter, with a 12-2 spurt to open the second quarter growing its advantage over Saint Martin's to 30-12. A technical foul called on Saint Martin's head coach Christy Martin at the 7:27 mark sparked the Saints to go on a 13-2 run to end the half, pulling to within seven points at 32-25.
 
The Saints closed to within three points at 34-31 early in the third quarter, but a 3-pointer by junior forward Katrina Gimmaka (Everson, WA/Nooksack Valley) swung the momentum back to the Vikings and ignited a 10-4 run to grow the lead back to nine points at 44-35.
 
Saint Martin's continued on the comeback trail pulling even at 52-52 with just under one minute remaining on a pair of free throws by Claire Dingus. From there a short-range jumper from Rogers with 30-seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner, and the Vikings played strong defense down the stretch to clinch the victory.
  Following GNAC protocols, there were no fans in attendance for the game inside Marcus Pavilion. All GNAC contest this season will feature no spectators, but all games will be streamed live online. WWU makes its home debut on WECU Court in Carver Gym Saturday night with tip-off at 6 pm. Like Friday's game, no fans will be permitted to attend the event.
  The Vikings lead the all-time series vs. Saint Martin's 74-11 and are 45-2 dating back to 1998 vs. the Saints. WWU avenged a 71-63 road loss at SMU on February 8, 2020 in the last meeting between the two schools.
  With no fans allowed to attend home or away games due to GNAC mandates, all games can be followed via live webcast on YouTube. Links will be active at WWUVikings.com/WBB_Watch for all games, with Vikings TV bringing you the home game action from Carver Gym. Shawn Walli and Ben Bagley will have the call from inside Carver Gym. Live statistical updates can also be tracked in real time via WWUVikings.com/WBB_Stats.
  The Vikings took the court Friday for the first time in 356 days, with the last game action March 7, 2020 facing Alaska Anchorage in the GNAC Championships final in Seattle. Saturday's home game vs. the Saints will mark 368 days since the Vikings last played a home game in Bellingham (2/25/20 vs. Simon Fraser). WWU went 22-9 last season, with a 14-6 league mark (3^rd place), and advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships before the postseason was canceled due to COVID-19.
  Here is a look at the complete six-game schedule for the Vikings:
 

DATE	OPPONENT	PLACE	TIME/RESULT
Feb. 26 (Fri.)	at Saint Martin's	Lacey, WA (Marcus Pavilion)	W, 58-54
Feb. 27 (Sat.)	SAINT MARTIN'S	WECU Court at Carver Gym	6:00 pm
March 5 (Fri.)	SEATTLE PACIFIC	WECU Court at Carver Gym	5:00 pm
March 6 (Sat.)	at Seattle Pacific	Seattle, WA (Brougham Pavilion)	5:00 pm
March 12 (Fri.)	CENTRAL WASHINGTON	WECU Court at Carver Gym	5:00 pm
March 13 (Sat.)	at Central Washington	Ellensburg, WA (Nicholson Pavilion)	5:00 pm

  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 eight of the last 12 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 612, win percentage and 20-win seasons. The Vikings have reached the NCAA II Tournament in 17 of 22 seasons at the Division II level with two trips to the Final Four. The program has 1,045 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 milestone.