BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team has advanced to the Final Four in the NCAA Division II Championships with a 58-55 national quarterfinal victory over Valdosta State Monday evening at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
The No. 5 seed Vikings (24-5) overcame a 13-1 deficit to start the game and played tough defense down the stretch for the three-point victory over the No. 4 seed Lady Blazers (26-6). Western never led by more than four points in the game, but out-scored VSU 34-18 in the paint and held a decisive 39-26 rebounding advantage to advance to Wednesday's Final Four.
Sophomore forward
Brooke Walling led four Vikings in double-figure scoring with a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double on 7-for-13 shooting. Junior guard
Mollie Olson added 11 points in 24 minutes and senior guard
Emma Duff and freshman guard
Riley Dykstra each contributed 10 points. Junior guard
Avery Dykstra led the Vikings with five assists and Olson also had five steals and a blocked shot.
WWU moves on to play No. 1 seed North Georgia in the national semifinal round Wednesday with tip-off scheduled for 8:30 pm CT/6:30 pm PT in Bill Harris Arena. No. 2 Grand Valley State will face No. 3 Glenville State in the first semifinal Wednesday at 5 pm CT/3 pm PT. The games will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
After trailing 13-1 in the first six minutes of the contest and facing their second-largest deficit of the season, the Vikings climbed back into the game to trail 19-12 through the first quarter. WWU then out-scored VSU 21-12 in the second quarter to take a 33-31 lead into halftime.
A defensive battle headlined the remainder of the game, with three tie scores and the largest point differential being a four-point WWU lead. The Vikings broke a 50-50 tie with just over five minutes remaining with a 4-0 run on back-to-back baskets by Walling and Dykstra. Valdosta State answered with a basket, but the Blazers only missed free throw of the game (18-for-19) kept the Vikings ahead by one point at 54-53 with 1:12 left. Dykstra hit a key three-pointer with 51-seconds remaining and then converted one-of-two free throws with four seconds on the clock to cushion the lead to three points.
Needing a three-pointer to tie, WWU's defensive pressure forced a bad pass and turnover to record the three-point victory.
WWU shot 42.6-percent for the game (23-for-54), were 6-for-18 from beyond the arc (33.3%) and 6-for-12 from the free throw line. WWU's defense limited Valdosta State to 17-for-50 shooting (34.0%), well below its season field goal percentage and the fifth-lowest shooting performance of the season. The Vikings suffocating defense was even tougher in the second half, limiting VSU to 6-for-24 shooting.
Nicole Heyn led the Blazers with 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting and also grabbed seven rebounds. Taylor Searcey added 12 points in 25 minutes in a reserve role.
FIRST HALF REPORT
The Vikings were limited to one point through the first five minutes of the game trailing 13-1, before going on an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to five points. Valdosta State led 19-12 through the first quarter of play while shooting 50.0-percent from the floor (6-for-12). WWU was 4-for-10 in the first 10 minute and led by four points from
Riley Dykstra.
WWU fought back in the second quarter out-scoring the Lady Blazers 21-12 to take a 33-31 halftime lead. After opening the quarter with consecutive baskets, the Vikings extended the run to 11-4 capped by back-to-back three-pointers by
Mollie Olson and
Gracie Castaneda to tie it up 23-23. After three more tie scores,
Brooke Walling made an inside post move for a layup as time expired to give the Vikings the 33-31 lead.
WWU shot 52.0-percent from the field in the in the half, fueled by 9-for-15 shooting in the second quarter.
Walling led WWU with eight points on 4-for-5 shooting and
Mollie Olson also had eight points on 3-for-4 shooting in 10 minutes of action.
QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH CARMEN DOLFO
"I think we came out a little bit flat and [Valdosta State] did a really good job of packing it inside and we definitely like to go inside and they took that away from us. We just needed to settle in, catch the ball ready to shoot a little more and move the ball and not stand so much. We've been in this situation before and we don't panic, we stay together and know our defense controls things. We are super excited to be able to get this win and be able to move on and get to play another game together."
ELITE EIGHT SCOREBOARD & SCHEDULE
The Vikings were the only lower seed to advance in the quarterfinal games played Monday, with No. 5 WWU defeating No. 4 Valdosta State 58-55. Western will play No. 1 North Georgia Wednesday evening in the second national semifinal with tip-off at 8:30 pm CT/6:30 pm PT. Both semifinal games (and the championship game) will be televised on the CBS Sports Network (check your local listings or subscribe via
FubuTV.
Monday's Results:
- #3 Glenville State 103, #6 West Texas A&M 56
- #2 Grand Valley State 67, #7 Missouri Western 44
- #1 North Georgia 68, #8 Pace 61
- #5 Western Washington 58, #4 Valdosta State 55
Wednesday's Semifinal Schedule:
- #2 Grand Valley State vs. #3 Glenville State, 6 pm CT/4 pm PT
- #1 North Georgia vs. No. 5 Western Washington, 8:30 pm CT/6:30 pm PT
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Valdosta State from Monday's NCAA Division II National Quarterfinal:
| COMPARISON |
WWU |
VSU |
| Points |
58 |
55 |
| Field Goal Pct. |
.426 (23-54) |
.340 (17-50) |
| 3 Point FG Pct. |
.333 (6-18) |
.231 (3-13) |
| Free Throw Pct. |
.500 (6-12) |
.947 (18-19) |
| Rebounds |
39 |
26 |
| Offensive Rebounds |
11 |
6 |
| Defensive Rebounds |
28 |
20 |
| Assists |
16 |
11 |
| Turnovers |
22 |
17 |
| Steals |
7 |
8 |
| Blocked Shots |
4 |
3 |
| Time Led |
11:17 |
22:55 |
| Points off Turnovers |
14 |
13 |
| Points in the Paint |
34 |
18 |
| Bench Points |
24 |
16 |
| Fouls |
17 |
16 |
THE RECORD
The Vikings head into the NCAA II Final Four with a 24-5 overall record and an 8-3 ledger in games played on the road (12-2 away, 6-1 neutral). WWU won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season title going 10-4 in league play and was runner-up in the GNAC Tournament. During regular and postseason have gone 6-0 vs. teams ranked in either of the two national polls.
| RECORD BREAKDOWN |
| Overall/GNAC Record |
24-5 (.828) |
| GNAC |
10-4 (1st) |
| Home |
6-2 |
| Away |
12-2 |
| Neutral |
6-1 |
| vs. Ranked Teams |
6-0 |
| Leading at Half |
21-2 |
| Trailing at Half |
2-2 |
| Tied at Half |
1-1 |
| Overtime |
0-3 |
| BY UNIFORM |
| White |
11-3 |
| Black |
9-1 |
| Navy Blue |
4-1 |
WESTERN IN ELITE (EIGHT)
Since joining the NCAA level in 1998-99, WWU has won 10 national titles (Women's Rowing-8, Men's Basketball-2012, Women's Soccer-2016). The Vikings are perfect in the NCAA Quarterfinals across all sports going 15-0, with women's soccer going 4-0 (2012, 2013, 2015, 2019), Volleyball 4-0 (2007, 2015, 2018, 2021), Men's Basketball 3-0 (2001, 2012, 2013), women's basketball 3-0 (2000, 2013, 2022) and men's golf (2013) all winning at the quarterfinal stage of the NCAA Championships. Additionally, women's rowing has advanced to the grand finals in all 17 trips to the DII Rowing Championships.
MARCH MADNESS
The Vikings are playing in their 18th NCAA Championships in 23 possible seasons (since 1998-99) and the third Elite Eight during the NCAA era that begin in 1998-99. WWU advanced to the NCAA Championships in 15 of 16 seasons from 1999-2014. Has won three regional championships in 2000 (Pine Bluff, Arkansas), 2013 (San Antonio, TX) and 2022 (Birmingham, AL).
The Vikings own an all-time 19-16 record in NCAA tournament play, recording at least one win in 11 of 17 prior regional appearances (with a game played). Below is a game-by-game listing of WWU in NCAA Tournament play with the regional host site listed next to the year:
1998-99 (Davis, CA):
Defeated Seattle Pacific, 77-69 (OT)
Lost to Montana State Billings, 70-48
1999-2000 (Pomona, CA):
Defeated Alaska Anchorage, 78-59
Defeated Cal Poly Pomona, 84-66
Defeated Slippery Rock, 84-67 – Elite 8
Lost to Northern Kentucky, 80-74 – Final Four
2000-01 (Pomona, CA):
Defeated Central Washington, 74-66
Lost to Cal Poly Pomona, 91-85
2001-02 (Pomona, CA):
Defeated Sonoma State, 71-60
Lost to Cal Poly Pomona, 71-70
2002-03 (Seattle, WA):
Lost to Northwest Nazarene, 83-79
2003-04 (Seattle, WA):
Defeated Sonoma State, 85-71
Lost to Seattle Pacific, 80-66
2004-05 (Seattle, WA):
Defeated CSU Dominguez Hills, 82-74 (OT)
Lost to Chico State, 85-75
2005-06 (Bellingham, WA):
Defeated Northwest Nazarene, 66-54
Lost to Seattle Pacific, 70-50
2006-07 (La Jolla, CA):
Lost to UC San Diego, 78-45
2008-09 (Seattle, WA):
Lost to Humboldt State, 74-64
2009-10 (Seattle, WA):
Lost to Chico State, lost 79-68
2010-11 (Pomona, CA):
Lost to Alaska Anchorage, 55-48
2011-12 (La Jolla, CA):
Defeated Cal State Monterey Bay, 65-58
Lost to UC San Diego, 81-66
2012-13 (Bellingham, WA):
Defeated Academy of Art, 70-50
Defeated Cal State Monterey Bay, 71-63
Defeated Simon Fraser, 75-58
Defeated Nova Southeastern, 80-76 (OT)
Lost to Ashland, 66-54 – Final Four
2013-14 (Pomona, CA):
Lost to Simon Fraser, 77-70
2016-17 (Anchorage, AK):
Defeated Cal State East Bay, 74-48
Lost to Cal Baptist, 80-68
2019-20 (Honolulu, HI):
vs. Alaska Anchorage, DNP (COVID-19)
2021-22 (Hayward, CA):
Defeated Alaska Anchorage, 76-64
Defeated Central Washington, 64-58
Defeated Cal State East Bay, 73-59
Defeated Valdosta State, 58-55 – Elite Eight
ANOTHER 20-WIN SEASON
The Vikings have reached the 20-win mark (24-5), marking the 36th 20-win season in the 51-year history of the program, and 22nd in 31 seasons under head coach
Carmen Dolfo.
ABOUT WWU BASKETBALL
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 51-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 642, 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). The program now has 1,074 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.
