BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team is back in action hosting a pair of games this week on WECU Court in Carver Gymnasium.

 

The No. 15 (WBCA) and No. 12 (D2CSC) nationally-ranked Vikings carry a three-game winning streak and 5-1 overall record into a non-conference match-up with Biola on Thursday and opens Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Saturday hosting Simon Fraser University. Both games feature a 7 pm tip-off in Carver Gym, where WWU is a perfect 4-0 this season and 36-4 over the last five seasons.

 

WWU is coming off a 2-0 record in the Lynda Goodrich Classic, defeating MSU Moorhead 63-43 and Hawai'i Pacific 80-44, putting on a defensive display by limiting the two opposing teams to 23.1-percent shooting (27-for-117) while recording a 28.0 average margin of victory.

 

For the season the Vikings lead NCAA II holding opponents to a .301 field goal percentage and are also the top team in the nation averaging 8.2 blocked shots per game. WWU's defensive effort is also ranked 15th holding opponents to 53.7 points per game.

 

The Vikings are led by senior All-American Brooke Walling who is averaging 17.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots per game while recording a GNAC-best four double-doubles. Walling also leads the conference with a .658 field goal percentage (48-for-73). Sophomore guard Mason Oberg (13.2) and junior forward Aspen Garrison (10.7) are also averaging double-digits in scoring. Junior guard Riley Dykstra holds the team lead averaging 4.2 assists per game with senior guard Stephanie Peterson close behind with 3.7 per game.

 

 

WWU Athletics will celebrate Native America Heritage Month this week with several events centered around Thursday's women's basketball game vs. Biola in Carver Gym. The nationally-ranked Vikings host Biola on Thursday with tip-off scheduled for 7 pm on WECU Court, with both pregame and halftime programming planned in partnership with the Lummi Nation. More information on Native American Heritage Month at WWU can be viewed online at wwu.edu/NAHMand wwuvikings.com/NAHM.

Following Thursday's non-conference West Region match-up with Biola the Vikings open the 18-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule hosting border rival Simon Fraser University at 7 pm. The WWU men's team opens the GNAC doubleheader vs. the Red Leafs with tip-off at 3 pm in Carver Gym. Tickets for the GNAC doubleheader will be available online at wwuvikings.com/Tickets through Friday and the Carver Gym Box Office opens at 2 pm on Saturday.

 

WWU head coach Carmen Dolfo will coach against a familiar foe on Thursday when the Vikings take on Biola. Dolfo was a two-year letterwinner for the Eagles from 1982-84 before transferring to WWU to complete her collegiate career and beginning her 40-year legacy in Bellingham. She is 7-0 all-time vs. Biola as Western's head coach with the last meeting in 2003. As a player with Biola, Dolfo combined to score 1,044 points and record 536 points in 63 games to average 16.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. In 48 career games as a Viking student-athlete, Dolfo scored 713 points in 48 games (14.8 points/game) and averaged 7.5 rebounds per game. Combining her collegiate career that spanned 111 games at Biola and WWU, Dolfo scored 1,757 points (15.8/game) and grabbed 896 rebounds (8.1/game). Biola's only win against WWU in eight tries was in the 1983 NAIA Area I Playoff, a 77-67 Eagles victory in Portland, Oregon.

 

Parking for all WWU home events in Carver Gym is free and now located in the 19G Lot by the Student Recreation Center. Season ticket parking will be in the 9G lot. A parking map is available at wwuvikings.com.

 

All home games during the 2023-24 season will feature a live (and free) webcast on YouTube via Vikings TV and live statistical updates at wwuvikings.com/WBB_Stats. 

 

WWU heads into the week as one of the top defensive teams in the nation, leading NCAA II limiting opponents to a .301 field goal percentage and recording a national-best 8.2 blocked shots per game. The Vikings are ranked No. 15 in the nation holding opponents to 53.7 points per game and lead the GNAC with a +16.2 scoring margin.

 

The Vikings have held opponents to single-digit quarter scoring outputs four times this season, including a four-point 2nd quarter by Cal State Dominguez Hills in the season opener to tie for the fewest points allowed in a quarter since the 4-quarter system was adopted in 2015-16. Also limited Hawai'i Pacific to five points in the opening quarter of a 80-44 victory on November 25 for the lowest-scoring first quarter by a WWU opponent during the quarter era.

 

After wrapping up a four-game homestand, Western completes the 2023 portion of the schedule on the road with a trio non-conference games against West Region programs Dominican (12/14), Cal State East Bay (12/16) and Cal State San Bernardino (12/18). The Vikings next home game will be in the new year January 11 hosting in-state rival Central Washington. The complete 2023-24 WWU women's basketball schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/23-24_WBB.

 

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

 

·         Biola: WWU is 7-1 all-time vs. BU with a current 7-game winning streak in the series…last meeting was a 67-48 Western victory on Dec. 17, 2003…series includes a 3-0 record in Bellingham, 4-0 in La Mirada and 0-1 in a neutral-site playoff loss in 1983 (led by Carmen Dolfo).

·         Simon Fraser: Saturday's GNAC opener marks the 94th meeting between WWU and SFU in the all-time series…Western holds a 56-37 lead in the series with a 23-7 record since SFU joined the NCAA level in 2010-11…Vikings swept the season series vs. the Red Leafs last season winning 69-60 in Burnaby and 87-63 in Carver Gym…dating back to the 2018-19 season WWU is 7-2 vs. SFU.

 

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

 

 

If you don't read anything past this portion of the preview on the Vikings, you should find out everything you need to know on the Vikings in the following bullet points:

 

·         The Record – Off to a 5-1 start to the season with 2-1 record against ranked opponents.

·         National Polls – Current national rankings of No. 12 (D2CSC) and No. 15 (WBCA).

·         Best in the West – Holds No. 1 spot in D2CSC West Regional Poll.

·         Streaking – Winners of last three games heading into this week's schedule vs. Biola and SFU.

·         Home Sweet Home – Perfect 4-0 record on WECU Court in Carver Gym this season…over last five seasons (since 2019-20) WWU is 36-4 in home games.

·         Always Dancing – Made 19th NCAA Championships appearance in 24 possible seasons in 2022-23.

·         Back-to-Back GNAC Champions – Won 2021-22 and 2022-23 GNAC regular-season titles.

·         Double Doubles – Brooke Walling has recorded four double-doubles through the first six games of the season to lead the GNAC…20 double-doubles during WWU career, including 11 in 2022-23.

·         All Around Brooke – Brooke Walling leads the team in scoring (17.8), rebounds (10.0), blocked shots (3.0) and field goal percentage (.658/48-for-73)…also paces the GNAC with four double-doubles.

·         That's a SWAT – Leads all of NCAA II averaging 8.2 blocked shots per game (49 total blocked shots).

·         Defensive Lockdown – National leader in opponent field goal percentage holding opponents to .301 from the field (114-for-379)…also limiting teams to 53.7 points per game to lead the GNAC and rank No. 15 in NCAA II.

·         On the Mark – Leads the GNAC and ranks No. 35 NCAA II with .456 overall field goal percentage.

·         Postseason Pulse – Program has played in the postseason (conference, regional, NCAA) in 48 of 51 possible seasons.

·         Coach Dolfo – Head Coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 33rd season leading the program and 40th overall associated with WWU Basketball as a student-athlete and coach…all-time record of 672-256 (.724)…23 seasons with 20+ wins.

 

Over the last four seasons (since 2019-20), the Vikings have combined to go 82-20 for a .804 winning percentage. WWU is the two-time defending GNAC regular-season champions and played in the 2022 NCAA II National Championship Game.

Seniors Brooke Walling (transfer from Fresno State) and Steph Peterson (transfer from Cameron) are approaching 1,000 career collegiate points. Here is a look at their collegiate points nearing the scoring milestone:

 

·         Brooke Walling (941 points – 800 in 63 games at WWU, 141 in 56 games at Fresno State)

·         Steph Peterson (882 points – 119 in 34 games at WWU, 763 in 73 games at Cameron)

WWU enters the fourth week of the 2023-24 regular season ranked No. 12 in the D2CSC (College Sports Communicators) National Poll, No. 15 in the WBCA Coaches Poll and No. 1 in the West Region.

W🏀| NATIONAL POLLS@WWUbasketball cracks the Top-15 in both national polls, landing at 12 in the D2CSC and 15 in the WBCA! GO VIKS!🤘 pic.twitter.com/0XTyolsKAw
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) November 29, 2023
  

Here is a listing of individual honors for Viking players during the 2023-24 season:

 

Brooke Walling:

·         WWU Veterans Day Classic MVP

·         Lynda Goodrich Classic All-Tournament Team

·         Preseason All-GNAC & GNAC Player of the Year

·         GNAC Player of the Week (Nov. 6-12)

Stephanie Peterson:

·         Lynda Goodrich Classic All-Tournament Team

Riley Dykstra: 

·         WWU Veterans Day Classic All-Tournament Team

·         Lynda Goodrich Classic All-Tournament Team

·         Preseason All-GNAC

Mason Oberg:

·         Lynda Goodrich Classic All-Tournament Team

·         Preseason All-GNAC

Aspen Garrison:

·         WWU Veterans Day Classic All-Tournament Team

WWU is coming off a double GNAC Championship season in 2022-23, winning both the regular season and postseason conference titles. WWU won its sixth GNAC regular-season title, adding to championships won 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 and again last season.

 

The two-time defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion WWU women's basketball team will open the 2023-24 season picked to finish runner-up in the annual preseason coaches poll. The Vikings are coming off an impressive 24-4 season, winning the league title with a 16-2 record and claiming the GNAC Tournament title with an instant-classic 76-71 win over Montana State Billings in the final on WECU Court in Carver Gym. Making its third consecutive trip to the NCAA postseason, Western was upended in the first round of the West Regional by Azusa Pacific. MSUB was picked to finish just ahead of WWU in the GNAC preseason poll with 94 points and five first-place votes. Western was just back of the Yellowjackets with 91 points and four first-place votes. Alaska Anchorage picked up the final first-place vote in the No. 3 spot with 75 points. Simon Fraser (68) and Central Washington (66) round out the top five.

 

 

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 heading into home games this week hosting Biola (Thursday) and Simon Fraser (Saturday) inside Carver Gym:

 

 

The Vikings reached the 20-win mark (24-4) in 2022-23, marking the 37th 20-win season in the 52-year history of the program, and 23rd in 32 seasons under head coach Carmen Dolfo.

 

Thanks to a partnership with WECU and The Foundation for WWU & Alumni, all current WWU students will receive free admission to all regular-season athletic events in Carver Gym. Students just need to show their W card at the door and then head over to the WECU Student Section to cheer on the Viks.

 

Head coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 33rd season leading the program, owning an all-time record of 672-256 (.724) to rank amongst the active and career leaders at the NCAA Division II level for career wins and winning percentage. Entering the 2023-24 season, Dolfo is 11th all-time in NCAA II in wins. Dolfo has led the Vikings to 19 trips to the NCAA Championships and a trio of Elite 8 appearances. 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 23 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 2023-24 coaching staff includes 12th-year assistant head coach Stacey Turrell, assistant coach Bobbi Westendorf, volunteer assistant Mike Li, and student assistants George Irwin, Ben Allen and Grant Brewer.

 

Two WWU women's basketball coaches have more than 400 career victories, with current head coach Carmen Dolfo amassing 672 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 1104-391 for a career winning percentage of .738.

 

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 672, 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 1,104 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.