BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The nationally-ranked Western Washington University women's basketball team opened Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a defensive-minded 64-57 victory over Simon Fraser University Saturday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

The Vikings, ranked No. 12 in the D2CSC Media Poll and No. 15 in the WBCA Coaches Poll, improved to 7-1 overall, 6-0 in Carver Gym and got off to a 1-0 start in conference play by winning their fifth consecutive game.

WWU led by as many as 13 points midway through the third quarter, but SFU climbed back into game making it a two-possession difference late in the fourth quarter. Although just 14-for-26 from the free throw line in the game, Western clinched the game going 5-for-7 from the charity stripe in the final quarter. 

Senior All-American Brooke Walling notched her fifth double-double of the season with a 20-point, 10-rebound performance shooting 7-for-10 from the field. Walling was a difference maker in all facets of the game adding five assists, three steals and two blocked shots in 33 minutes.

Junior forward Aspen Garrison added 11 points and six rebounds and sophomore guard Mason Oberg had 10 points on 3-for-8 shooting. Junior guard Olivia Wikstrom contributed a pair of second-half three-pointers in her six-point effort.

"It wasn't our best night offensively, but we played great defense and stuck to our game plan against a very good Simon Fraser team," said WWU head coach Carmen Dolfo. "We have a little break and need to get back to practice and shore up some things heading into some tough upcoming road games. But I am proud of the effort and resolve of this team to not have their best night and still come up with a very important early-season GNAC victory."

WWU's defensive effort limited Simon Fraser (7-4, 0-1 GNAC), the reigning GNAC Team of the Week, to 34.8-percent shooting going 24-for-69 from the field. SFU out-rebounded WWU 40-31 and held a 15-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. The Red Leafs were led by 12 points each from guards Grace Killins and Rachel Loukes.

The Vikings (7-1) are back on the road for their next five games, beginning with a three-game road trip to California to face Dominican (Dec. 14), Cal State East Bay (Dec. 16) and Cal State San Bernardino (Dec. 18). 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.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and SFU:

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 64-57 conference-opening victory over Simon Fraser Saturday night in Carver Gym:

Here is an updated look at the 2023-24 GNAC Women's Basketball standings through the first week of conference play, with the Vikings at 1-0 to open league play:

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 674, 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 1,106 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.