AZUSA, Calif. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team wrapped up the 2023 Cougar shoutout with a 62-46 victory over No. 12 nationally-ranked Azusa Pacific Saturday Night inside the Felix Event Center.

In a showdown of the two top teams in the latest D2CSC West Region rankings, the Vikings showcased their patented defensive prowess to earn the 16-point victory. WWU improved to 3-1 on the season while playing its third top-25 opponent, avenging a pair of losses to APU last season including a season-ending defeat in the first round of the NCAA Championships.

After a balanced back-and-forth opening quarter between the two teams, the WWU defense took over in the second quarter, holding Azusa Pacific to 12.5-percent shooting (2-for-16 FG, 0-7 3FG) and six total points. With the Cougar defense focusing their efforts on the GNAC Preseason Player of the Year Brooke Walling, guards Mason Oberg and Riley Dykstra paced the offense attack accounting for 17 of the Vikings 29 first-half points leading a 29-19 10-point lead at the halftime break.

The Cougars refused to go away quietly however, pulling to within three points midway through the third quarter and cutting the lead to seven (51-44) at the 3:48 mark in the fourth quarter. WWU pulled away down the stretch fueled by six points from Walling, closing out the game on an 11-2 run to earn the 62-46 road victory.

Oberg led the Vikings with 18 points and junior guard Olivia Wikstrom chipped in 12 points and five rebounds in a reserve role. Despite being double-teamed most of the game Walling recorded a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double on 5-for-9 shooting. Senior guard Stephanie Peterson added an all-around effort with six points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals.

APU (4-2) was led by 17 points from Kelly Heimburger (7-for-22 FG). The Cougars received all but two of 46 points from their five starters and were held to 2-for-20 shooting from three-point range (18-for-66 FG overall).

WWU debuted this week in the national media poll (D2CSC) at No. 10 in the nation after defeating Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State LA last weekend in Bellingham.

The Vikings (3-1) returns home for the next four games, beginning by hosting the Lynda Goodrich Classic next weekend with MSU Moorhead, Hawai'i Pacific and Central Washington traveling to Bellingham for the two-day tournament. WWU opens the tournament slate with a 7 pm game on Friday against MSU Moorhead, with CWU playing Hawai'i Pacific in the first game at 4:30 pm on WECU Court. The complete season schedule, complete with links on how to watch the games, can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/WBB.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and No. 12 Azusa Pacific:

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2023-24 season:

Fans wishing to purchase season tickets for the 2023-24 season can call the WWU Box Office at (360) 650-BLUE to reserve their seats for the upcoming season inside Carver Gym. The complete 2023-24 schedule is available online with links to purchase tickets at wwuvikings.com/23-24_WBB.

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2023-24 season following Saturday's 16-point victory over Azusa Pacific to closeout the Cougar Shootout:

One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, recording a 20-win season in 10 of the last 14 full seasons, and 37 times in the 52-year history of the program. WWU has 23 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 670, winning percentage and 20-win seasons. The Vikings have reached the NCAA II Tournament in 19 of 24 possible seasons at the Division II level with three trips to the Elite Eight (last in 2022) and played in the 2022 national championship game. The program has 1,102 all-time wins in the 53-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.