BELLINGHAM, Wash. – It was a Senior Night to remember for the Western Washington University women's basketball team, honoring three special seniors prior to the game and then recording a 33-point victory over Saint Martin's University 81-48 to cap the regular-season home schedule on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
 
The No. 6/9 nationally-ranked Vikings improved to 18-3 overall and are locked in a first-place tie with Montana State Billings at 10-3 in league play. WWU hopes to play again in Carver Gym this season as the West Regional host, but key games remain in Saturday's regular-season finale at Simon Fraser and in the GNAC Championships.
 
Western seniors Emma Duff, Gracie Castaneda and Dani Iwami took to the Carver Gym floor on their Senior Night and were honored in a pregame ceremony with friends, family and teammates surrounding them.
 
Playing for the third time in the last four days (2-1 in that span), WWU received contributions from all 11 players that suited up, with everyone scoring at least three points in the lopsided victory over Saint Martin's (11-13, 3-12 GNAC). Junior forward Katrina Gimmaka scored in double-digits for the third consecutive game with a career-high 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting. Gimmaka also grabbed nine rebounds and had a pair of steals.
 
Duff added 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting and freshman guard Riley Dykstra had 10 points and five rebounds.
 
WWU recorded an efficient .477 field goal percentage (31-for-65) and were 9-for-23 from three-point range (.391). The Vikings won the battle of the boards 40-27 and forced 14 turnovers leading to 21 points.
 
The Vikings lead nearly wire-to-wire, using a 13-0 first quarter run to pull away and then out-scored the Saints 23-2 over a 13-minute stretch spanning the second and third quarters.
 
Rian Clear led Saint Martin's in scoring with 11 points on 5-for-13 shooting, with Iternite Reed and Josie Matz each contributing nine points.

  Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and SMU from Tuesday's game:
 

COMPARISON	WWU	SMU
Points	81	48
Field Goal Pct.	.477 (31-65)	.400 (20-50)
3 Point FG Pct.	.391 (9-23)	.222 (2-9)
Free Throw Pct.	.714 (10-14)	.545 (6-11)
Rebounds	40	27
Offensive Rebounds	16	8
Defensive Rebounds	24	19
Assists	22	8
Turnovers	10	14
Steals	6	4
Blocked Shots	1	2
Time Led	37:00	00:55
Points off Turnovers	21	10
Points in the Paint	38	30
Bench Points	27	20
Fouls	16	13

  Prior to Tuesday's home regular-season finale against Saint Martin's WWU's three seniors were recognized in a special pregame ceremony. Emma Duff, Gracie Castaneda and Dani Iwami – along with senior members of the WWU band and cheer programs – were honored for their contributions to the program over the last five years.
  The Vikings (18-3, 10-3 GNAC) close out the regular season Saturday evening at Simon Fraser University on Burnaby Mountain with the GNAC contest scheduled to tip-off at 5:15 pm in West Gym.
  Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings through games played on Tuesday, with the Vikings at the top of the table with Montana State Billings at 10-3 in conference play. Updated conference standings and the 2021-22 GNAC Women's Basketball Points Rating System Standings can be viewed online at GNACSports.com.
 

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL		CONF	PCT	OVERALL	PCT	HOME	AWAY	NEUTRAL	STREAK
1.	Western Washington	10-3	.769	18-3	.857	6-2	10-1	2-0	Won 1
	Montana State Billings	10-3	.769	16-9	.640	10-5	4-2	2-2	Won 4
3.	Alaska Anchorage	11-4	.733	18-5	.782	8-2	9-3	1-0	Won 1
4.	Central Washington	11-5	.688	18-7	.720	6-3	10-3	2-1	Lost 1
5.	Northwest Nazarene	10-6	.625	16-8	.667	8-2	7-4	1-2	Won 3
6.	Simon Fraser	7-8	.467	11-13	.458	6-2	3-7	2-4	Lost 1
7.	Seattle Pacific	7-9	.438	11-15	.423	7-7	3-6	1-2	Won 1
8.	Western Oregon	4-12	.250	8-15	.348	6-6	2-8	0-1	Lost 6
9.	Saint Martin's	3-12	.200	11-13	.458	7-6	2-7	2-0	Lost 3
10.	Alaska Fairbanks	2-13	.133	3-17	.150	0-9	2-7	1-1	Won 1
THIS WEEK'S GNAC SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Monday, February 21 Northwest Nazarene 87, at Western Washington 76 (OT) Seattle Pacific 61, at Western Oregon 59 (OT) Alaska Anchorage 89, at Central Washington 81 Tuesday, February 22 at Alaska Fairbanks 80, Simon Fraser 78 at Western Washington 81, Saint Martin's 48 Thursday, February 24 Montana State Billings at Central Washington, 5:15 pm Seattle Pacific at Northwest Nazarene, 5:15 pm MT Saint Martin's at Alaska Fairbanks, 5:15 pm AKT Western Oregon at Alaska Anchorage, 7:30 pm AKT Saturday, February 26 Western Oregon at Alaska Fairbanks, 1 pm AKT Seattle Pacific at Central Washington, 4 pm Western Washington at Simon Fraser, 5:15 pm Saint Martin's at Alaska Anchorage, 5:15 pm AKT Montana State Billings at Northwest Nazarene, 5:15 pm MT

  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 636, 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 1,068 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.