BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team is ranked nationally in the top 10 and has a one-game lead in the conference standings leading into the penultimate week of Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season play. 

 

No. 8 WWU hosts the final three games of the regular season, beginning with key matchups on WECU Court in Carver Gym this week against two of the top four teams in the conference standings. No. 20/18 Montana State Billings (21-4, 12-2) comes to Bellingham Thursday and Seattle Pacific (12-10, 7-7) makes the trek North for a Saturday contest, with both games featuring a 7 pm tip-off.

 

The Vikings have already clinched a trip to the postseason earning one of six spots for the GNAC Championships that will be held March 2-4 in Bellingham. WWU is looking to defend its regular-season GNAC title from last year.

 

Western carries a six-game winning streak into Thursday's top-25 matchup against MSUB, with the Yellowjackets winning each of their last 10 games. The Vikings are 20-2 overall and 14-1 in GNAC play, and are ranked No. 8 in the nation in both the WBCA Coaches poll and the D2SIDA Media poll in NCAA Division II.

 

Following this week's schedule hosting MSUB (Thursday) and SPU (Saturday), the Vikings close out the regular season schedule next Thursday (Feb. 23) hosting Simon Fraser for Senior Night. The six-team GNAC Championships field and schedule will be announced following play on Saturday, February 25.

 

The Vikings enter the week as one of the most well-rounded teams in the nation, leading NCAA II in rebound margin (+12.3) and ranking 2nd in assists per game (19.9), blocked shots per game (5.7) and three-point field goal percentage (.384), and third with a .485 team field goal percentage. WWU is also ranked 2nd in the GNAC in scoring offense (76.1 points per game) and in scoring defense (57.9 points allowed per game).

 

Western features a balanced scoring attack with nine players averaging at least 5.0 points per game and all 11 active players averaging at least 8.0 minutes per game. Junior forward Brooke Walling leads the team in several statistical categories including scoring (14.0), field goal percentage (.593), rebounding (9.3), assists (3.6), steals (1.5), blocked shots (1.9), double-doubles (10) and minutes played (28:07). Senior forward Katrina Gimmaka is 2nd on the team and in the GNAC with a .578 field goal percentage while averaging 10.3 points per game.

 

Reigning GNAC Defensive Player of the Year Avery Dykstra has been a stalwart for the Vikings starting all 22 games averaging 7.6 points and 2.7 assists per game. Senior guard Mollie Olson is averaging 3.3 assists per game to rank 10th in the GNAC.

 

The complete 2022-23 WWU women's basketball schedule and season results to this point can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/22-23_WBB. Tickets for home games can be purchased at wwuvikings.com/Tickets.

 

 

·         National Polls – Entered week ranked No. 8 (WBCA - Coaches) and No. 8 (D2SIDA - Media).

·         Undefeated in Carver – Owns perfect 8-0 record on WECU Court in Carver Gym this season.

·         GNAC Leaders – Currently in 1st place in the GNAC with 14-1 league record…defending GNAC Champions.

·         On the Mark – Leads the GNAC and rank 3rd in NCAA II with .485 field goal percentage.

·         Beyond the Arc – Ranks 2nd in NCAA II and leads the GNAC with .384 three-point field goal percentage.

·         Distribution – No. 2 in NCAA II averaging 19.9 assists per game

·         20 Win Seasons – Reached 20-win mark for 37th time in 52-year history of program (23rd under Dolfo).

·         GNAC Championships – WWU hosts the GNAC Championships March 2-4.

·         Road Warriors – 11-1 away games this season, completing GNAC season winning eight of nine away from Bellingham…over last two seasons are 30-5 in away/neutral site games.

·         High Scoring – 2nd in the GNAC averaging 76.1 points per game and leads the conference with 78.3 scoring average in GNAC contests…reached 100-point mark in back-to-back games Dec. 29 (UAA) and Dec. 31 (UAF).

·         Defensive Lockdown – Holding teams to 57.9 points per game to rank 2nd in the GNAC.

·         Postseason Pulse – Played in the postseason (conference, regional, NCAA) in 48 of 51 possible seasons, including 2023 having already clinched spot in GNAC Championships.

·         Balanced Offense – Eight players are averaging at least 6.0 points, led by 14.0 from Brooke Walling.

·         All Around Brooke – Brooke Walling leads the team in scoring (14.0), field goal pct. (.593), rebounds (9.3), assists (3.6), blocked shots (1.9) and minutes played (28:07).

·         Student-Athletes – Tied program record with eight selections to GNAC All-Academic Team.

 

Thursday's game between WWU and MSUB features a pair of ranked teams, with the Vikings listed No. 8 in both national polls and the Yellowjackets ranked No. 20 in the WBCA Coaches Poll and No. 18 in the D2SIDA Media Poll. WWU and MSUB are listed No. 1-2 in the GNAC standings, with each having already punched a ticket to the postseason GNAC Championships. The Yellowjackets handed the Vikings their only conference defeat earlier this season, 73-61 on January 21 in Billings.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A post shared by WWU Athletics (@wwuathletics)
 

The Vikings have proven to be one of the most well-rounded teams in the nation, leading NCAA II in rebound margin (+12.3), ranking 2nd in assists (19.9 per game), and third in field goal percentage (.485). In WWU's 87-58 win at Western Oregon last week, the Vikings tallied 31 assists on 32 made field goals (while shooting .582). Among the 294 NCAA Division II programs, the Vikings are tied with East Stroudsburg averaging .690 assists per made field goal. WWU has recorded four of the top six assist performances in the GNAC this season, including a pair of 31-assist games to tie for the 5th-most by a Viking team during the NCAA era (since 1998-99). Here is a detailed look at the top 15 teams in NCAA Division II for the newly-created stats of assist-to-field goal ratio:

 

 

Here is a look at this week's promotions and events for home games vs. MSUB and SPU:

 

• Thursday vs. MSUB: iPad and JBL speaker raffle giveaway…Bellingham Public Schools unified basketball teams will be in attendance.
• Saturday vs. SPU: Pride Night with special events celebrating the LGBTQ+ campus community…WWU Cheer Senior Night.

 

WWU will have one game next week to close out the regular season, hosting border rival Simon Fraser on Thursday, February 23 on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The regular-season finale will feature Senior Night, with WWU's five seniors Avery Dykstra, Mollie Olson, Monique Fierke, Carley Zaragoza and Katrina Gimmaka celebrated in their final regular-season home game in Carver Gym. The schedule for the GNAC Championships held March 2-4 will be set following the completion of Saturday's (Feb. 25) games.

 

Here is a look at the comparison between the Vikings and opponents this week, MSUB and SPU, with GNAC rankings also listed. WWU (2nd), MSUB (1st) and SPU (3rd) are the top three GNAC teams in scoring defense:

 

 

The Vikings have officially punched their ticket to the postseason clinching one of the six spots for the GNAC Basketball Championships held March 2-4 in Carver Gym in Bellingham. WWU has qualified for the GNAC postseason tournament in 11 of the 12 seasons of the event.

 

The Vikings matched their program record with eight selections to the 2022-23 GNAC All-Academic Team, with four-time award winner Avery Dykstra and 4.00 student Maddy Grandbois leading the way. WWU's eight selections matched the program record set in 2021-22, with the prior record six GNAC Academic All-Stars. Seniors Monique Fierke and Carley Zaragoza were also three-time selections.

WWU leads the GNAC and ranks 3rd in NCAA II with a team .485 field goal percentage, connecting on 633 of 1304 shots from the field. Current field goal percentage would rank 2nd in program history if the season concluded. Western is also ranked 2nd in the nation with a .384 three-point field goal percentage (163-for-424). Brooke Walling (.593/127-for-214) and Katrina Gimmaka (.578/100-for-173) are ranked No. 1-2 in the GNAC in field goal percentage.

 

Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings and schedule heading into this weekend's games:

 

 

The Vikings are 20-2 overall, reaching the 20-win mark for the 37th time in the 52-year history of the program, and 23rd time in 32 seasons under head coach Carmen Dolfo.

 

WWU will get the chance to complete the season with three consecutive regular-season games inside Carver Gym, beginning this weekend hosting No. 20 Montana State Billings and Seattle pacific. The Vikings will also serve as the host for the 2023 GNAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships held March 2-4 on WECU Court in Bellingham.

 

In the most recent NCAA.com Division II Power Rankings, WWU was listed No. 4 behind Ashland (No. 1), Drury (No. 2) and Tampa (No. 3). Here is what D2 beat writer Wayne Cavadi wrote about the Vikings:

 

The Vikings jump back up in the rankings after a big conference win against Central Washington. There is not enough credit given to this team's 20-2 record, especially when you consider it has been compiled against the 11th toughest schedule in the division. You won't find many teams outside the Power 10 as deep as the Vikings, as this really is a team effort: Eight players contribute at least 6.1 points per game.

 

Senior guard Mollie Olson broke into the program top 20 for assists passing the 300-assist mark for her career. Olson has dished out 310 career assists to rank 19th in program history. Over the course of her career, Olson is averaging 2.84 assists per game. This season she ranks 10th in the GNAC averaging 3.3 assists per game.

 

Dating back to the start of the 2019-20 season, the Vikings have combined to go 73-17 (.811) with a 38-11 record in GNAC play (.776). WWU went 25-6 during the Elite 8 2021-22 season and off to a 20-2 start to the 2022-23 season.

 

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

 

• MSU Billings: WWU endured its only loss of the conference season at MSUB on Jan. 21, 73-61…Vikings lead the all-time series 28-17, winning six of the last seven…WWU is 15-5 all-time vs. MSUB in home games.
• Seattle Pacific: WWU defeated SPU 58-53 in Seattle on Jan. 19…carries eight-game winning streak vs. the Falcons into Saturday's game, a streak that dates back to Feb. 16, 2019…eight-game winning streak over SPU is the longest in the head-to-head series during the NCAA era (since 1998-99)…WWU has won last four meetings inside Carver Gym.

 

WWU utilizes its entire 11-player active roster, with 10 players averaging at least 12 minutes per game and all 11 players over 8.0 minutes per game. The Vikings are the No. 2 scoring team in the conference averaging 76.1 points per game (78.3 ppg in GNAC games to rank 1st), with nine players averaging at least 5.0 points per game.

 

Here is where WWU ranks in the NCAA Division II statistical rankings (entering the week), with the Vikings leading the nation in rebound margin (+12.3) and ranking 2nd in assists per game (19.9), blocked shots per game (5.7) and three-point field goal percentage (.384). WWU is also the No. 3 team in NCAA II with a .485 field goal percentage.

 

 

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2022-23 season:

 

 

Here is a list of Vikings current national and West Region rankings, with WWU remaining at No. 8 in both the WBCA Coaches Poll and the D2SIDA Media Poll. The Vikings are also No. 2 in the D2SIDA West Region rankings:

 

• WBCA NCAA II Coaches Poll: #8
• D2SIDA NCAA II Media Poll: #8
• D2SIDA West Region Media Poll: #2

 

Junior forward Brooke Walling has been filling the stat sheet this season ranking amongst GNAC leaders in several categories. Here is a look at where Walling is listed in the GNAC and NCAA II this season:

 

• Blocked Shots: 1.9 blocks per game (2nd in GNAC, 18th in NCAA II)
• Scoring: 14.0 points per game (9th in GNAC)
• Rebounding: 9.3 rebounds per game (2nd in GNAC, 31st in NCAA II)
• FG Pct: .593/127-for-214 (1st in GNAC, 12th in NCAA II)
• Assists: 3.6 assists per game (4th in GNAC)
• Steals: 1.5 steals per game (11th in GNAC)
• Double-Doubles: 10 (2nd in GNAC, 29th in NCAA II)

 

Here is a listing of individual honors for Viking players during the 2022-23 season:

 

Brooke Walling:

• West Region Crossover Classic MVP
• Lynda Goodrich Classic MVP
• Preseason All-GNAC
• GNAC Player of the Week (Jan. 2-8)

Avery Dykstra:

• Lynda Goodrich Classic All-Tournament
• Preseason All-GNAC

Mason Oberg:

• Hoops in Hawai'i Classic All-Tournament

Maddy Grandbois:

• Lynda Goodrich Classic All-Tournament

Mollie Olson:

• Preseason All-GNAC

Riley Dykstra:

• Preseason All-GNAC

Katrina Gimmaka

• GNAC Player of the Week (Jan. 30-Feb. 5)

 

The Vikings established a single-game program record making 18 three-pointers on January 26 vs. Alaska Fairbanks. Seven different players hit a trey in the 99-62 win over the Nanooks to pass the old record of 15 set against Cal Poly Humboldt (Humboldt State) twice during the 2005-06 season. The Vikings also attempted a single-game program record 35 three-pointers for a .514 shooting performance from beyond the arc (14th-best in program history with min. 10 made threes). For the season WWU ranks among the national leaders in three-point shooting, listed No. 2 in 3FG shooting percentage (.384/163-for-424).

 

Senior forward Katrina Gimmaka was selected as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week for competition held January 30-February 5.Gimmaka helped lead the top-10 nationally-ranked Vikings to a pair of conference wins over Northwest Nazarene (73-41) and Central Washington (78-60), averaging 16.0 points in the two games while combining to shoot 16-for-24 (.667) from the field. After scoring 10 points on 5-for-8 shooting vs. NNU, Gimmaka tied her season and career high with 22 points vs. CWU on 11-for-16 shooting. In 20 games this season (all starts), Gimmaka is averaging 9.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while leading the GNAC with a .584 field goal percentage (87-for-149).

 

The Vikings became the first team in GNAC history to record back-to-back conference games scoring 100 or more points in the victories over the Alaska schools (Dec. 29-31). WWU reached the 100-point plateau for the 28th time in program history with the 101-57 win over UAF on December 31, but just for the third time in back-to-back games after demolishing Alaska Anchorage 104-51 on December 29. Joins the 1988-89 Vikings (100-49 vs. Alaska Pacific on Dec. 19, 1988 and 100-71 vs. UC Riverside on Dec. 27, 1988) and the 2003-03 squad (106-58 vs. Northwest on Dec. 20, 2002 and 108-57 vs. Cal State LA on Dec. 27, 2002).

 

Separated by just 20 months, the Dykstra sisters – Avery (older) and Riley (younger) – are the latest in a long line of Dykstras that have had a big impact on WWU Athletics. Uncle Grant was a Division II Basketball All-American in 2005-06 and won the 2006 V Foundation Comeback award. Uncle Greg was an all-conference football player, and Greg's wife, Aunt Kelly, was an all-conference basketball player. The Dykstra sisters are local products that prepped at Lynden Christian, playing two years in high school together. Avery won a state championship in basketball at Lynden Christian in 2016, exactly 20 years after mom Shannon won one, and exactly 40 years after grandfather Glen Dykstra won one. Avery and Riley played together on a state championship team in 2018, and Riley won another in 2020. Avery was the 2022 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and Riley was the 2022 GNAC Freshman of the Year.

 

The Vikings had their 14-game winning streak snapped in the road contest at MSUB on January 21. It marked the 26th double-digit winning streak in program history and enters the record book as the 10th-longest in program history and the longest since a 16-game winning streak spanning the 2020-21 and 2021-22 season. 

 

 

WWU entered the 2022 NCAA Division II Championships as the No. 3 seed in the NCAA II West Regional, but went on a five-game winning streak – knocking off four higher seeded teams – to play for the national championship. The Vikings battled Glenville State in the championship game at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama, falling 85-72 to earn national runner-up honors. Marked the Vikings third trip to the Elite 8 and first since 2013. WWU has advanced to the NCAA II Championships in 18 of 23 possible seasons.

In addition to several NCAA Tournament and Elite 8 appearances that hang in the rafters in Carver Gym, WWU added a fifth GNAC Championships regular-season banner last season. The Vikings claimed the GNAC regular-season title 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.

 

Head coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 32nd season leading the program, owning an all-time record of 663-253 (.724) to rank amongst the active and career leaders at the NCAA Division II level for career wins and winning percentage. Entered the 2022-23 season, Dolfo ranked 13th all-time in NCAA II in wins. Dolfo has led the Vikings to 18 trips to the NCAA Championships and a trio of Elite 8 appearances, including playing in the national championship game in 2022. 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 22 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 2022-23 coaching staff includes 11th-year assistant head coach Stacey Turrell, assistant coach Bobbi Westendorf, volunteer assistants Annalisa Fish and Mike Li, and student assistant George Irwin.

 

Two WWU women's basketball coaches have more than 400 career victories, with current head coach Carmen Dolfoamassing 663 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 1095-388 for a career winning percentage of .738.

 

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2022-23 season schedule and results:

 

 

One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, recording a 20-win season in nine of the last 13 full seasons, and 36 times in the 52-year history of the program. WWU has 22 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 663, winning percentage and 20-win seasons. The Vikings have reached the NCAA II Tournament in 18 of 23 possible seasons at the Division II level with three trips to the Elite Eight (including 2022) and played in the 2022 national championship game. The program has 1,095 all-time wins in the 52-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.