BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team closes out the first half of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule with a pair of tough teams tied for second place behind the Vikings in the conference standings.

 

The No. 5/6 nationally-ranked Vikings travel to play the first two games of a stretch of four consecutive road contests, taking on Seattle Pacific on Thursday (7 pm) in Royal Brougham Pavilion and Montana State Billings on Saturday (7 pm MT/6 pm PT) in Alterowitz Gym.

 

WWU is riding a 13-game winning streak and has a hold on first place in the GNAC with a perfect 7-0 league record. The Falcons and Yellowjackets are chasing the Vikings with matching 5-2 records in league play.

 

The Vikings are coming off a pair of home wins, defeating Saint Martin's (81-65) and Western Oregon (67-47) in Carver Gym last week. WWU's current winning streak is tied for 11th-longest in program history and tied for the 5th-longest active winning streak in the nation. The Vikings lone loss this season was the opener against No. 21 Azusa Pacific (59-58). 

 

WWU enters the week leading the nation in both blocked shots per game (6.6) and rebound margin (+13.9), while also ranking 3rd in assists (18.9/game), 5th in field goal percentage (.478), 8th in three-point field goal percentage (.380) and ninth in scoring margin (+19.8).

 

The Vikings have been winning games with both a high-scoring offense and suffocating defense, ranking 13th in NCAA II with a GNAC-leading 77.8 points scored per game and limiting opponents to 58.0 points per game (43rd in NCAA II, 3rd in GNAC). Dating back to the 2019-20 season, the Vikings have combined to go 66-16 for a .805 winning percentage (31-10 in GNAC games).

 

In the national and regional polls, the Vikings remained the same across the board at No. 5 in the D2SIDA Media Poll, No. 6 in the WBCA Coaches Poll and No. 1 in the West Region D2SIDA Poll. WWU has appeared in each of the last 26 national polls dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season, with 18 of those weeks in the top 10.

 

While the Vikings will play four consecutive road games, the late January travel schedule will make for a home-friendly February with five of the final seven games on WECU Court in Carver Gym. Following the trek to Seattle and Billings, WWU will make its annual trip to Alaska facing UAF and UAA to open the second half of the GNAC slate. The Vikings will then close out the regular season with five home games in February, and just one road trip to play at Saint Martin's and Western Oregon.

 

WWU is fueled by a very balanced offense with six players averaging at least 7.0 points per game. Junior forward Brooke Walling is putting together a well-rounded season ranking second in the conference with seven double-doubles, the most by a Viking since Kayla Bernsen recorded nine in 2015-16. Walling is filling up the state sheet averaging team-highs per game in scoring (14.6), rebounding (10.1), assists (4.0), steals (1.6) and blocked shots (2.2)…and also leads the team with a .583 shooting percentage (84-for-144).

 

Redshirt freshman guard Mason Oberg has been anything but silent in her collegiate debut, averaging 9.9 points and 1.5 assists per game, while ranking 4th in the GNAC in three-point field goal percentage at .451 (32-for-71). Oberg is coming off a career-high 22-point performance against Western Oregon and is shooting .541 from beyond the arc in conference play (20-for-37).

 

Senior forward Katrina Gimmaka (9.4 points/game) and senior guard Avery Dykstra (8.1 points/game) have also been solid contributors while starting all 14 games. Sophomore forward Truitt Reilly has three double-doubles to rank third in the GNAC and is averaging 7.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Riley Dykstra is at 7.1 points per game for the season, but scored in double-digits in three of the last four games.

 

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

 

 

WWU (13-1, 7-0 GNAC) returns to the road to close out the first half of the GNAC season, facing Seattle Pacific (Thursday, 7 pm) and Montana State Billings (Saturday, 7 pm MT/6 pm PT). Links on how to follow the Vikings in road games and how to purchase tickets for home games can be found at wwuvikings.com/Live.

 

WWU utilizes its entire 11-player active roster, with 10 players averaging at least 11 minutes per game and all 11 players over 8.0 minutes per game. The Vikings are the top scoring team in the conference averaging 77.8 points per game (84.3 ppg in GNAC games), with eight players averaging at least 5.0 points per game.

 

The Vikings extended their current winning streak to 13 in-a-row, the 26th double-digit winning streak in program history. The current winning streak is tied for 11th-longest in program history and the longest since a 16-game winning streak spanning the 2020-21 and 2021-22 season. Dating back to the start of the 2019-20 season, the Vikings have combined to go 66-16 (.805) with a 31-10 record in GNAC play (.756). Here is a look at the longest winning streaks (top 15) in program history:

 

 

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

 

 

Here is where WWU ranks in the NCAA Division II statistical rankings, with the Vikings leading the nation in both blocked shots per game (6.6) and rebound margin (+13.9), and ranking third in assists per game (18.9) and fifth in field goal percentage (.478):

 

 

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

 

• Seattle Pacific: The Vikings carry a 7-game winning streak into Thursday's game in Seattle, a streak that dates back to Feb. 16, 2019…WWU has also won 12 of the last 15 meetings since the 2014-15 season…Vikings lead the all-time series 68-33…the 7-game winning streak matches a seven-game winning streak over the Falcons from 1999-2000 as the longest during the NCAA era (since 1998-99)…won 59-40 last season at home and 75-54 on the road.
• MSU Billings: WWU and MSUB did not play during the 2021-22 regular season with both games canceled due to health and safety protocols…the Vikings defeated the Yellowjackets in the GNAC Championships semifinal 69-63…WWU leads the all-time series 28-16 with a current six-game winning streak over MSUB dating back to the 2018-19 season (went 3-0 vs. MSUB that season)…Vikings are 15-5 all-time vs. MSUB in Billings.

 

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: 2.2 blocks per game (2nd in GNAC, 15th in NCAA II)
• Scoring: 14.6 points per game (9th in GNAC)
• Rebounding: 10.1 rebounds per game (2nd in GNAC, 19th in NCAA II)
• FG Pct: .583/84-for-144 (2nd in GNAC, 14th in NCAA II)
• Assists: 4.0 assists per game (3rd in GNAC)
• Steals: 1.6 steals per game (12th in GNAC)
• Double-Doubles: 7 (2nd in GNAC)

 

Here is a list of Vikings current national and West Region rankings, with WWU remaining at No. 6 in the WBCA Coaches Poll and No. 5 in the D2SIDA Media Poll:

 

• WBCA NCAA II Coaches Poll: #6
• D2SIDA NCAA II Media Poll: #5
• D2SIDA West Region Media Poll: #1

 

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
• GNAC Player of the Week (Jan. 2-8)

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

 

The Vikings became the first team in GNAC history to record back-to-back conference games scoring 100 or more points in the victories over the Alaska schools (Dec. 29-31). WWU reached the 100-point plateau for the 28th time in program history with the 101-57 win over UAF on December 31, but just for the third time in back-to-back games after demolishing Alaska Anchorage 104-51 on December 29. Joins the 1988-89 Vikings (100-49 vs. Alaska Pacific on Dec. 19, 1988 and 100-71 vs. UC Riverside on Dec. 27, 1988) and the 2003-03 squad (106-58 vs. Northwest on Dec. 20, 2002 and 108-57 vs. Cal State LA on Dec. 27, 2002).

 

Junior forward Brooke Walling was last week's Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week. Walling helped lead the Vikings to a pair of road conference victories over Central Washington (82-70) and Northwest Nazarene (86-70) averaging 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in the wins over the Wildcats and Nighthawks, also tallying seven blocked shots, seven assists and six steals. Walling combined to shoot 53.6-percent making 15-of-28 field goals and was 5-for-8 from the free throw line. In the 12-point win over CWU, Walling scored 15 points with nine rebounds and against NNU recorded her fifth double-double with a season-high-tying 21 points and 11 rebounds.

 

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 656-252 (.722) to rank amongst the active and career leaders at the NCAA Division II level for career wins and winning percentage. Entered 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, including playing in the national championship game in 2022. 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 656 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 1088-387 for a career winning percentage of .738.

 

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 656, 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 1,088 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.