BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 8 nationally-ranked Western Washington University women's basketball team closes out what has been a historic calendar year this week hosting a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference games on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

 

The 7-1 Vikings and defending national runners-ups take a seven-game winning streak into conference games against No. 25 Alaska Anchorage on Thursday (7 pm) and Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday (2 pm).

 

Fans looking for a between-holiday event will have plenty of free admission opportunities, with the following promotions offering free admission:

 

• Donation of a non-perishable food item
• WWU Faculty & Staff 
• Youth wearing their favorite sports jersey

 

The Vikings are coming off a 2-0 road trip prior to the holiday break, defeating Hawai'i Pacific (77-70) and Fairmont State (76-63) in the Hoops in Hawai'i Holiday Classic. WWU was scheduled to play a third game in Hawai'i, but the game vs. Chaminade was canceled due to health and safety protocols within the Chaminade program.

 

WWU enters the final week of the 2022 calendar year with a 7-1 overall record and owns a 1-0 GNAC record. The Vikings enter this week's games as one of the top rebounding teams in the nation ranking second in NCAA Division II with a rebound margin of +12.4 and 12th averaging 44.4 rebounds per game. Western is also second in the GNAC and 33rd in the nation holding opponents to 56.5 points per game.

 

The Vikings balanced offense is led by junior forward Brooke Walling averaging 13.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, while shooting at a .575 clip from the field (46-for-80). Senior guard Avery Dykstra is averaging 9.0 points per game and redshirt freshman guard Mason Oberg is contributing 8.5 points per game. Oberg was selected to the Hoops in Hawai'i Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team averaging 14.5 points per game.

 

WWU's team depth is displayed by eight players averaging at least 5.0 points per game and 10 of 11 active players averaging at least 10.0 minutes played per game.

 

Following the games vs. the Alaska schools, the Vikings return to the road to play six of the next eight games beginning with conference games at Central Washington University in Moses Lake (Big Bend CC) on January 5 (5:15 pm) and Northwest Nazarene in Nampa on January 7 (5:15 pm MT). WWU's next home games will be January 12 (Saint Martin's) and January 15 (Western Oregon).

 

The complete 2022-23 WWU women's basketball schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/22-23_WBB.

 

WWU returns to Carver Gym for a pair of key GNAC home games December 29 (7 pm) and 31 (2 pm) hosting the Alaska schools. Each game 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 an iPad and Air Pods.

 

Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings and schedule heading into this weekend's games:

 

 

Here is a look at the series history between WWU and its opponents this week in GNAC Play:

 

• Alaska Anchorage: WWU went 3-0 vs. UAA last season, sweeping the GNAC series with a 63-50 win at home and 53-45 victory on the road…defeated the Seawolves 76-64 in the opening round of the NCAA II West Regional in Hayward, California…WWU is aiming for first four-game win streak in the head-to-head series since winning five consecutive Feb. 19, 2004-Feb. 9, 2006…Vikings lead the all-time series 33-28 (according to WWU records) with UAA holding 21-19 lead in GNAC regular-season games.
• Alaska Fairbanks: WWU has a 25-game winning streak vs. UAF and won 31 of the last 32 meetings dating back to the 2004-05 season…Vikings lead the all-time series 54-5 with a perfect 26-0 record in home games.

 

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

 

 

Junior forward Brooke Walling has been filling the stat sheet this season ranking amongst GNAC leaders in several categories. Here is a look at where Walling is listed in the GNAC and NCAA II this season:

 

• Blocked Shots: 1.9 blocks per game (2nd in GNAC, 17th in NCAA II)
• Scoring: 13.3 points per game (11th in GNAC)
• Rebounding: 9.9 rebounds per game (3rd in GNAC, 30th in NCAA II)
• FG Pct: .575/46-for-80 (3rd in GNAC, 16th in NCAA II)
• Assists: 3.3 assists per game (9th in GNAC)
• Double-Doubles: 3 (2nd in GNAC)

 

Here is a list of Vikings current national and West Region rankings:

 

• WBCA NCAA II Coaches Poll: #8
• D2SIDA NCAA II Media Poll: #8
• D2SIDA West Region Media Poll: #1
• GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll: #1 (8 of 10 first-place votes)

 

Here is a listing of individual honors for Viking players during the 2022-23 season:

 

Brooke Walling:

• West Region Crossover Classic MVP
• Lynda Goodrich Classic MVP
• Preseason All-GNAC

Avery Dykstra:

• Lynda Goodrich Classic All-Tournament
• Preseason All-GNAC

Mason Oberg:

• Hoops in Hawai'i Classic All-Tournament

Maddy Grandbois:

• Lynda Goodrich Classic All-Tournament

Mollie Olson:

• Preseason All-GNAC

Riley Dykstra:

• Preseason All-GNAC

 

Here is where WWU ranks in the NCAA Division II statistical rankings:

 

 

The Vikings landed a league-high four players on the 2022-23 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team. Junior forward Brooke Walling, senior guard Mollie Olson, senior guard Avery Dykstra and sophomore guard Riley Dykstra were all selected following their GNAC Championships victory and run to the NCAA Division II Championship title game last season.

 

WWU entered the 2022 NCAA Division II Championships as the No. 3 seed in the NCAA II West Regional, but went on a five-game winning streak – knocking off four higher seeded teams – to play for the national championship. The Vikings battled Glenville State in the championship game at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama, falling 85-72 to earn national runner-up honors. Marked the Vikings third trip to the Elite 8 and first since 2013. WWU has advanced to the NCAA II Championships in 18 of 23 possible seasons.

 

The Vikings reached the 20-win mark (25-6) in 2021-22, marking the 36th 20-win season in the 51-year history of the program, and 22nd in 31 seasons under head coach Carmen Dolfo.

In addition to several NCAA Tournament and Elite 8 appearances that hang in the rafters in Carver Gym, WWU added a fifth GNAC Championships regular-season banner last season. The Vikings claimed the GNAC regular-season title in 2001-02, 2005-06, 2010-11, 2012-13 and 2021-22. WWU also won back-to-back GNAC Tournament titles in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

 

Head coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 32nd season leading the program, owning an all-time record of 650-252 (.721) to rank amongst the active and career leaders at the NCAA Division II level for career wins and winning percentage. Entering the 2022-23 season, Dolfo ranked 13th all-time in NCAA II in wins. Dolfo has led the Vikings to 18 trips to the NCAA Championships and a trio of Elite 8 appearances. She became the winningest coach in WWU Athletics history when she collected victory No. 519 on Dec. 3, 2015 vs. Alaska to pass former men's basketball coach Brad Jackson (518-279). Dolfo tallied her 600th career victory on January 11, 2020 vs. Seattle Pacific, in her 840th career game. Dolfo became the 36th active NCAA women's head coach across all divisions to join the 600-win club and is one of 73 women's coaches all-time in NCAA history to reach the milestone. WWU has recorded 22 seasons with 20-or-more wins under Dolfo. She was named the 2021-22 GNAC Coach of the Year. That was her fifth GNAC honor and 12th Coach of the Year accolade overall. Dolfo was also a volleyball and basketball student-athlete at WWU in the 1980s.

 

The 2022-23 coaching staff includes 11th-year assistant head coach Stacey Turrell, assistant coach Bobbi Westendorf, volunteer assistants Annalisa Fish and Mike Li, and student assistant George Irwin.

 

Two WWU women's basketball coaches have more than 400 career victories, with current head coach Carmen Dolfo amassing 650 wins and Hall of Fame coach Lynda Goodrich totaling 411 wins leading the Vikings for 19 seasons from 1971-1990. The program owns an all-time record of 1082-387 for a career winning percentage of .737.

 

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2022-23 season schedule and results:

 

 

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 650, 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 1,082 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.