MONMOUTH, Ore. – The No. 9 nationally-ranked Western Washington University women's basketball team improved to 10-0 on the road and 13-1 overall with a 77-59 victory over Western Oregon University Tuesday afternoon in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
Taking the court for the first time 10 days, the Vikings showed little rust in the 18-point win over the Wolves to maintain their lead in the GNAC with a 5-1 conference record. WOU dropped to 7-9 overall and 3-6 in the GNAC, but endured just its second home loss in eight games this season.
The Vikings and Wolves played a tight first half with WWU holding a one-point 28-27 lead. The first two quarters featured 10 lead changes and four tie scores, but the Vikings used a big 30-point third quarter to pull away for the decisive victory. WWU went on an 11-1 run to begin the third quarter, and was 12-for-19 (.632) in the 10-minute stanza to take control of the game.
"I am proud of the team for how they came off the break in games and played committed defense forcing 23 turnovers and for really playing a great all-around second half," said head coach
Carmen Dolfo. "We got great contributions from the entire roster. We are looking forward to getting back home to play in front of fans for a big game Thursday vs. SPU."
Guard
Emma Duff continued her strong senior season matching her career-high with 24 points on 11-for-16 shooting. Duff added five rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists.
Junior guard
Mollie Olson equaled her career-high with nine assists, also contributing five points, six rebounds and three steals.
Sophomore forward
Brooke Walling (11 points, 5-for-5 FG) and sophomore post
Carley Zaragoza (12 points, 5-for-8 FG) also scored in double-digits.
WWU shot a season-high 59.3 percent from the field, connecting on 32-of-54 shots.
The Vikings defense suffocated the Wolves with a season-high 16 steals and held WOU to a team shooting percentage of 35.3 (18-for-51). WWU forced 23 turnovers leading to 30 points.
Western Oregon was led by 13 points from Meadow Aragon (6-for-13 FG) and 11 points by Madisyn Clark (all free throws).
UP NEXT
The Vikings (13-1, 5-1 GNAC) continues its four-game stretch of road games next week traveling to play at Saint Martin's (Thursday, Jan. 27, 5:15 pm) and Western Oregon (Saturday, Jan. 29, 2:00 pm) next week in GNAC play.
SERIES HISTORY VS. WOU
The Vikings clinched the series sweep over the Wolves also winning 70-52 by the same 18-point margin on December 30 in Carver Gym. WWU is now 56-11 all-time vs. Western Oregon and have won 24 of the last 26 meetings dating back to the 2008-09 season.
GNAC STANDINGS
Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings following the 77-69 win at Western Oregon, with the Vikings maintaining sole possession of first place at 5-1 in conference play. Saint Martin's plays at Simon Fraser later tonight in Burnaby (5 pm tip-off):
| WOMEN'S BASKETBALL |
CONF |
PCT |
OVERALL |
PCT |
HOME |
AWAY |
NEUTRAL |
STREAK |
| 1. |
Western Washington |
5-1 |
.833 |
13-1 |
.929 |
3-1 |
8-0 |
2-0 |
Won 3 |
| 2. |
Central Washington |
6-2 |
.750 |
13-4 |
.764 |
5-1 |
6-2 |
2-1 |
Won 8 |
| 3. |
Montana State Billings |
7-3 |
.700 |
13-9 |
.591 |
8-5 |
3-2 |
2-2 |
Won 1 |
| 4. |
Alaska Anchorage |
5-3 |
.625 |
12-4 |
.750 |
5-2 |
6-2 |
1-0 |
Won 2 |
|
Northwest Nazarene |
5-3 |
.625 |
11-5 |
.688 |
7-1 |
3-2 |
1-2 |
Lost 1 |
| 6. |
Seattle Pacific |
4-4 |
.500 |
8-10 |
.444 |
6-4 |
1-4 |
1-2 |
Lost 2 |
| 7. |
Western Oregon |
3-6 |
.333 |
7-9 |
.438 |
6-2 |
1-6 |
0-1 |
Lost 4 |
| 8. |
Saint Martin's |
2-5 |
.286 |
10-6 |
.625 |
7-2 |
1-4 |
2-0 |
Won 1 |
|
Simon Fraser |
2-5 |
.286 |
6-10 |
.375 |
2-1 |
2-5 |
2-4 |
Lost 1 |
| 10. |
Alaska Fairbanks |
1-8 |
.111 |
2-12 |
.143 |
0-5 |
1-6 |
1-1 |
Lost 1 |
| TUESDAY'S GNAC RESULTS |
Western Washington 77, at Western Oregon 59
Saint Martin's at Simon Fraser, 5 pm |
ABOUT WWU BASKETBALL
One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, recording a 20-win season in eight of the last 12 full 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 631, winning percentage and 20-win seasons. The Vikings have reached the NCAA II Tournament in 16 of 21 seasons at the Division II level with two trips to the Final Four. The program has 1,063 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 1,000-victory milestone.
