BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Led by four-time selection
Dani Iwami the Western Washington University women's basketball program set a program record with eight selections to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.
While a top-10 team on the court with an overall 14-1 record, the Vikings showed to be equally impressive in the classroom with the record-setting amount of award winners on the conference All-Academic squad presented by Barnes & Noble College.
WWU surpassed the six awards from last season to set the program record, with the previous high being five honorees from 2016-17. Western was tied for 2nd in the GNAC with the eight selections, trailing 10 by Seattle Pacific and matching eight by Montana State Billings.
Iwami, a fifth-year senior from Seal Beach, California, became the first four-year academic award winner in program history carrying a 3.66 GPA as an environmental studies major. Junior
Avery Dykstra joined an elite list as the 10th three-time award winner in program history.
Emma Duff,
Monique Fierke and
Carley Zaragoza each earned the academic honor for a second time.
Zaragoza topped WWU's sections with a 3.88 GPA while pursuing a degree in environmental studies and
Avery Dykstra was next with a 3.70 as a business administration major.
To qualify for the GNAC All-Academic Teams nominees must be of sophomore eligibility or greater, have a minimum cumulative GPA or 3.20 or greater, be a letterwinner on their team and must be in their second year at the nominating institution.
Here is a look at the Vikings that were honored as 2021-22 GNAC All-Academic team members:
| Name |
Academic Major |
Year |
GPA |
Hometown |
| Gracie Castaneda |
Elementary Education |
Sr. |
3.28 |
Arlington, WA |
| Emma Duff* |
Environmental Science |
Sr. |
3.33 |
Tumwater, WA |
| Avery Dykstra*+ |
Business Administration |
Jr. |
3.70 |
Everson, WA |
| Riley Dykstra |
Elementary Education |
Fr. |
3.55 |
Everson, WA |
| Monique Fierke* |
Public Health |
Sr. |
3.36 |
Monroe, WA |
| Dani Iwami*+# |
Environmental Studies |
Sr. |
3.66 |
Seal Beach, CA |
| Mollie Olson |
English |
Jr. |
3.22 |
Napavine, WA |
| Carley Zaragoza* |
Environmental Science |
So. |
3.88 |
El Dorado, CA |
|
* - 2020-21 All-Academic Selection + - 2019-20 All-Academic Selection
# - 2018-19 All Academic Selection
|
FOLLOW THE VIKS
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).
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 632, 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 1,064 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.
