BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 15 nationally-ranked Western Washington University women's basketball team recorded a 70-54 victory over Biola University Thursday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

The Vikings won their fourth consecutive game to improve to 6-1 on the season heading into Saturday's Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener hosting Simon Fraser University. WWU remains undefeated on WECU Court at 5-0 with the 16-point win over Biola (4-4).

"Tonight was a good test for us against a very physical and well-coached Biola team," said WWU head coach Carmen Dolfo. "We were able to put a few good stretches together in the third quarter and that helped lift us. We relied on our defense to get us going on the offensive end of things. While we didn't have the best night shooting, we hit a number of big shots in key moments."

WWU, ranked No. 12 in the D2CSC Media Poll and No. 15 in the WBCA Coaches Poll, received another standout performance from senior All-American Brooke Walling totaling 22 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field and 8-for-10 from the free throw line.

Sophomore guard Mason Oberg added 16 points on four three-pointers and perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. Juniors Riley Dykstra and Aspen Garrison each contributed nine points.

The Vikings overcame a rare off night shooting just 37.5-percent from the field (21-for-56), but a strong defensive effort limited Biola to 37.3-percent shooting (19-for-51). 

Western held a 31-23 halftime lead and Biola cut the deficit to six points at 39-33 midway through the third quarter. The Vikings answered with a 10-3 run fueled by three-pointers from Oberg and junior guard Olivia Wikstrom. 

Coming off a road victory over Simon Fraser on Tuesday, Biola was led by 15 points from Laila Walker (6-for-15 FG) and 12 points from Jordan Rabe. Natasa Radovic led all players with a game-high eight rebounds.

The game served as Native American Heritage Month celebration with a pregame honor song performed by the Lummi Nation Blackhawk Singers, a pregame event hosted by the WWU Native American Student Union and a halftime game with the Lummi Nation North Dubs Basketball Team.

The Vikings (6-1) remain at home opening Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Saturday (Dec. 2) against Simon Fraser University with tipoff at 7 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The men will host SFU in a 3 pm GNAC contest as part of a conference doubleheader. 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 Biola:

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

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2023-24 season following Thursday's 70-54 win over Biola:

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 673, 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 1,105 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.