SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team received another balanced team effort in a 77-59 road victory over Cal State San Bernardino Monday afternoon in non-conference play inside The Den.

Junior guard Olivia Wikstrom led four Vikings scoring in double-digits with a season-high 17 points on 5-for-6 shooting as the Vikings improved to 9-2 overall heading into the holiday break. WWU has won seven of its last eight games while rising to No. 9 (D2CSC Media Poll) and No. 13 (WBCA Coaches Poll) in the nation.

Also scoring in double-digits were senior guard Stephanie Peterson (10 pts, 6 reb), sophomore guard Mason Oberg (10 pts) and senior All-American forward Brooke Walling (10 pts, 14 reb). Walling recorded her seventh double-double of the season with a game-high 14 rebounds, also contributing five assists, four blocks and two steals.

Western trailed by three points after the first quarter, 16-13, but took control in the second quarter out-scoring the Yotes 25-10 to take a 38-26 halftime lead. The Vikings poured it on in the second half with 39 points to record the 18-point victory.

Wikstrom was nearly perfect from the field connecting on five of six shots while going 3-for-4 from three-point range. She neared a double-double with eight rebounds and also had three assists and a steal. The Vikings featured seven players scoring at least eight points and all 11 active players saw playing time. WWU combined to shoot 49.1-percent from the field (26-for-53) and was 8-for-24 from three-point range (.333). 

Cal State San Bernardino had its two-game winning streak snapped to fall to 4-5 on the season. Jaida Jackson and Olivia Lee each scored 12 points to pace the Yotes. 

The Vikings trailed 16-13 through the first quarter of play, but turned it up a notch in the second stanza out-scoring the Yotes 25-10 in the second quarter to take a 12-point 38-26 lead into the halftime break. WWU opened the second quarter on a 12-2 run to take control back in the game. Mason Oberg led all players with 10 first-half points on 3-for-6 shooting (3-for-6 FT) and Olivia Wikstrom added eight points on perfect 3-for-3 shooting with a pair of three-pointers. Riley Dykstra contributed seven points and Brooke Walling had nine rebounds, three blocks, three assists and a pair of steals.

After a slow start to open the second half, WWU went on 8-2 run to end the third quarter to grow the lead to 16 points at 55-39 heading into the final quarter. Stephanie Peterson scored seven of her 10 points in the third quarter. Western put the game away in the fourth quarter leading by as many as 24 points before settling for the 18-point victory. Olivia Wikstrom capped her season-high scoring performance with seven points in the fourth quarter.

Junior guard Olivia Wikstrom was selected as the WECU Player of the Game scoring a game-high 17 points on 5-for-6 shooting, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Wikstrom was also perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line, grabbed eight rebounds and had three assists and one steal.

W🏀 | A season-high 17 points on 5-for-6 shooting, with a trio of three-pointers, lands Olivia Wikstrom the WECU Player of the Game award in the Vikings 77-59 road win at Cal State San Bernardino. pic.twitter.com/yJiHR3mD1W
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) December 18, 2023
  

The Vikings (9-2, 1-0 GNAC) will take a break for the holidays and return to Great Northwest Athletic Conference action opening the New Year January 4 with a road game at the University of Alaska Anchorage. WWU is next back in Carver Gym hosting Central Washington Thursday, January 11 in the new year in GNAC play. The complete season schedule, complete with links on how to watch the games, can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/WBB.

Monday's game marked the first meeting between the two programs.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Cal State San Bernardino:

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 the 77-59 road win over Cal State San Bernardino:

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 676, 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 1,108 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.