ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team improved to 5-0 on the season with a 20-point 81-61 road victory over Central Washington University Friday night inside Nicholson Pavilion.
Playing an abbreviated six-game schedule, Western is now on a quest for a perfect 6-0 season with one game remaining with Central visiting Bellingham Saturday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
The Vikings were led by the seventh career double-double by guard
Emma Duff (Tumwater, WA/Black Hills), who totaled 13 points on 5-for-11 shooting and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. Sophomore post player
Carley Zaragoza (El Dorado, CA/Union Mine) tied for the team-high with 13 points on 6-for-10 shooting.
Senior
Kelsey Rogers (Bothell, WA/Lynnwood), one of two Viking seniors that are not expected to return next season due to NCAA eligibility extensions, reached double-digits scoring 10 points on 5-for-9 shooting.
Junior forward
Katrina Gimmaka (Everson, WA/Nooksack Valley) notched an 8-point, 8-rebound performance on 4-for-7 shooting, and senior guard
Dani Iwami (Seal Beach, CA/Los Alamitos) and junior guard
Mollie Olson (Napavine, WA) each had 9 points.
WWU's balanced scoring attack resulted in all 11 players that suited up scoring at least one field goal, with the team shooting a combined 49.3% from the floor (36-for-73 FG, 5-for-15 3FG).
The Wildcats were held to 31.3% shooting in their season debut (21-for-67), attempting 28 3-pointers (6-for-28). Kassidy Malcolm scored a game-high 19 points and recorded a double-double with 12 rebounds, and Samantha Brown also had a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double.
NEXT UP
The Vikings (5-0) close out the abbreviated season Saturday night hosting Central Washington (0-1) on WECU Court in Carver Gym with tip-off scheduled for 6 pm.
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS
The Vikings raced out to an early 28-14 lead through the first quarter, and built a 14-point halftime lead at 45-31. An 13-5 run in the second quarter gave the Vikings their biggest lead of the half at 43-25 with 3:10 remaining. WWU shot 51.3% from the field in the opening 20 minutes, going 20-for-39 from the field (4-for-9 3FG), and out-rebounded the Wildcats 26-15.
Emma Duff led 10 Vikings that scored at least one basket with 9 points on 4-for-6 shooting, and also grabbed 7 rebounds.
Kelsey Rogers added 8 points (4-for-6 FG) and
Dani Iwami hit a pair of 3-pointers for 6 points. CWU was led by 8 points on 3-for-11 shooting by Kizzah Maltezo.
THE RUN THAT MATTERED
WWU had its lead trimmed to single-digits with a 53-44 advantage (9 points) midway through the 3
rd quarter, but the Vikings put aside any comeback attempt going on a 22-5 run to take a 75-49 lead with 8:30 remaining in the game. During the extended run
Mollie Olson scored 5 points, with
Carley Zaragoza contributing 5 of her 13 points.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. THE WILDCATS
The WWU record book shows the Vikings leading the all-time series vs. the Wildcats 96-15, with a 7-5 advantage over the last 12 meetings dating back to the 2015-16 season.
Gallery: (3-12-2021) WBB | WWU at Central Washington (3/12/21)
NO FANS IN ATTENDANCE
Following GNAC protocols, there were no fans in attendance for the game inside Nicholson Pavilion. All GNAC contest this season will feature no spectators, but all games will be streamed live online.
HOW TO WATCH THE VIKINGS
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.
2020-21 SCHEDULE
Here is a look at the complete six-game schedule for the Vikings, with WWU 5-0 heading into Saturday's season finale:
| 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 |
W, 83-74 |
| March 5 (Fri.) |
SEATTLE PACIFIC |
WECU Court at Carver Gym |
W, 58-50 |
| March 6 (Sat.) |
at Seattle Pacific |
Seattle, WA (Brougham Pavilion) |
W, 59-57 (ot) |
| March 12 (Fri.) |
at Central Washington |
Ellensburg, WA (Nicholson Pavilion) |
W, 81-61 |
| March 13 (Sat.) |
CENTRAL WASHINGTON |
WECU Court at Carver Gym |
6:00 pm |
FOLLOW THE VIKS
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).
ABOUT WWU BASKETBALL
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 1,049 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.
