BELLINGHAM, Wash. – In a battle of GNAC powers and top 25 programs, the No. 8 Western Washington University women's basketball team recorded a historic performance in a 104-51 victory over No. 25 University of Alaska Anchorage Thursday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

The Vikings matched its single-game scoring record for a GNAC game and set the mark for largest scoring margin in the 53-point victory over the Seawolves. WWU improved to 8-1 on the season with its eighth consecutive victory and remained undefeated at 2-0 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. UAA dropped to 9-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

WWU raced out to a 27-11 lead through the first quarter and 57-23 at the half, using a 15-0 run to pull away and never look back while leading by as many as 55 points in the contest. 

Western combined to shoot 66.1-percent in the game (41-for-62) for the best shooting performance in program history in a GNAC contest (since 2001-02) and dished out 31 assists for the second-most in a conference game. The Vikings also dominated the boards with a 45-26 advantage in rebounds and recorded six blocked shots.

All 11 players that suited up scored at least four points, led by an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double by junior forward Brooke Walling and a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double by sophomore forward Truitt Reilly. Senior forward Katrina Gimmaka was a perfect 8-for-8 shooting to tie for the team-high with 18 points and redshirt freshman guard Mason Oberg added 11 points and four assists.

Walling recorded her team-leading fourth double-double of the season, filling the stat sheet with six assists and three blocked shots. Senior guard Mollie Olson dished out six assists.

"This was a great team win and really shows how selfless this group is," said WWU head coach Carmen Dolfo. "They find the open pass and love to see their teammates score."

UAA was led by 13 points and six rebounds from Vishe' Rabb and nine points by Jazzpher Evans.

The 104 points scored marked the 27th game in program history to score at least 100 points, and the first in seven years since a 100-54 win over Alaska Fairbanks on Dec. 1, 2016. The 53-point margin of victory set a program record in a GNAC game, bettering the previous mark of a 50-point win over UAA in 2006. WWU's .661 field goal percentage (41-for-62) established a program single-game record in a GNAC game, bettering the previous mark of .636 at UAF in 2016 (35-for-55). The 31 assists are second-most in a GNAC game in program history, trailing only 32 vs. Humboldt State in 2003.

WWU (8-1, 2-0 GNAC) closes out the calendar year Saturday hosting the University of Alaska Fairbanks in GNAC play on WECU Court in Carver Gym. Tip-off vs. the Nanooks will be at 2 pm with tickets available at wwuvikings.com/Tickets.
 

WWU is back in action Saturday, December 31 hosting Alaska Fairbanks at 2 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The game vs. the Nanooks will feature a canned food drive offering free admission by donating a non-perishable food item. Free admission will also be offered for WWU faculty and staff and all youth that wear their favorite sports jersey will gain free admission. And each game will feature a free big-ticket giveaway with a raffle for Air Pods.
 

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and No. 25 Alaska Anchorage:

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2022-23 season:

WWU extended its winning streak over UAA to four consecutive games after going 3-0 vs. the Seawolves last season. First four-game winning streak for the Vikings over the Seawolves since winning five straight from Feb. 19, 2004-Feb. 9, 2006. Western leads the all-time series 34-28 (according to WWU records).

Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings, complete with Thursday's results from around the conference:

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2022-23 season following the 104-51 win vs. Alaska Anchorage:

One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, recording a 20-win season in nine of the last 13 full seasons, and 36 times in the 52-year history of the program. WWU has 22 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 651, winning percentage and 20-win seasons. The Vikings have reached the NCAA II Tournament in 18 of 23 possible seasons at the Division II level with three trips to the Elite Eight (including 2022) and played in the 2022 national championship game. The program has 1,083 all-time wins in the 52-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.