SEATTLE, Wash. – Another night, another victory for the Western Washington University women's basketball team.
 
WWU junior guard Avery Dykstra scored the Vikings final seven points in a thrilling 59-57 overtime victory over Seattle Pacific University Saturday evening inside Brougham Pavilion.
 
After SPU tied the game in regulation on a last-second 3-pointer by senior Ashlynn Burgess, WWU (4-0) was clutch down the stretch in the overtime period to record its fourth consecutive victory during its abbreviated 2020-21 season.
 
Dykstra, a product of Lynden Christian, hit a 3-pointer with 1:21 remaining in overtime to put the Vikings ahead 55-53, and then hit a pair of free throws with 10 seconds on the clock to tie the contest 57-57. With five seconds on the clock and the ball advanced past midcourt following a timeout, Dykstra grabbed a loose ball near the 3-point line and streaked to the basket where her layup in traffic found the bottom of the net with less than a two seconds remaining. 
 
Dykstra finished with a team-high 13 points, tying her single-game career high, on 4-for-8 shooting, scoring over half her points in the five-minute overtime period. Senior guard Gracie Castaneda added a season-high 10 points off the bench on 4-for-8 shooting (2-for-6 3FG). 
 
Junior forward Katrina Gimmaka (9 points, 4-for-7 FG), junior guard Mollie Olson (8 points, 2-8 FG, 4-4 FT, 5 Assists) and senior guard Dani Iwami (7 points, 2-13 FG) added to the balanced scoring effort. Senior guard Emma Duff grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to help lead Western to a 48-40 advantage on the glass.
 
In a game that involved several shifts in momentum, the Vikings led for a majority of the game (39:59 of 45:00), but had to fend off the Falcons on several occasions. Western led 20-12 after the first quarter, but SPU battled back to out-score the Vikings 14-5 to take a 26-25 halftime lead.
 
A 3-pointer by junior guard Monique Fierke at the end of the 3^rd quarter gave the Vikings a 39-37 lead, and Western would hold on to the lead throughout the 4^th quarter until Burgess hit the last-second tying 3-pointer on her senior night.
 
Iwami hit an early 3-pointer in the overtime period to give the Vikings a lead, but the Falcons would battle back to take a 57-55 lead following a pair of Hailey Marlow free throws with 15 seconds remaining.
 
And that's when Dykstra, a name familiar with Viking fans, took over.
 
The junior hit a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining to tie the game 57-57. Castaneda corralled a defensive rebound following a missed shot by Harlow, setting up the last-second dramatics. 
 
Following a tipped pass, Dykstra grabbed a loose ball and drove the lane through traffic to sink the contested layup with two seconds remaining for the game-winning shot.
 
The Falcons were limited to 31.7 percent shooting by the Viking defense (19-60) and were led by 10 points and 8 rebounds by forward Natalie Hoff (4-9 FG, 2-for-3 FT). Harlow added nine points on 3-for-5 shooting and Kaprice Boston had eight points. SPU finished its season with a 7-7 record.

  The Vikings (4-0) close out the abbreviated season next week with a home-and-home series vs. Central Washington. WWU will travel to Ellensburg on Friday to face the Wildcats in Nicholson Pavilion with tip-off scheduled for 5 pm. The Vikings will then close out the season hosting the Wildcats Saturday night on WECU Court in Carver Gym with tip-off at 6 pm. Live stats and the Vikings TV webcast can be found at WWUVikings.com/Live.
  The Vikings held a 20-12 lead through the first quarter, but were limited to just five points in the second quarter to trail 26-25 at halftime. WWU was held to 10-for-28 shooting in the first half and were 4-for-14 from 3-point range. Gracie Castaneda led the Vikings with six points on 2-for-3 shooting, hitting a pair of 3-pointers.
  The WWU record book shows the Vikings leading the all-time series vs. the Falcons 66-33, including a current five-game winning streak. The Vikings defeated SPU Friday night in Bellingham 58-50, and were victorious last season 73-60 in Bellingham (for Carmen Dolfo's 600th career victory) and 77-62 in Seattle. Overall WWU has won 10 of the last 13 in the series.
  Following GNAC protocols, there were no fans in attendance for the game inside Brougham Pavilion. All GNAC contest this season will feature no spectators, but all games will be streamed live online.

A-V-E-R-Y

D-Y-K-S-T-R-A

✅ Ties career high with 13 points
✅ Ties career high with 7 rebounds
✅ Ties game in OT with free throws (10 seconds left)
✅ Hits game-winning shot#HaveADay #SheCalledGame #VIKtorious 🏀 pic.twitter.com/39kR2KwLwN
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) March 7, 2021
  

  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.
  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	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)	5:00 pm
March 13 (Sat.)	CENTRAL WASHINGTON	WECU Court at Carver Gym	6:00 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 1,048 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.