BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The temperature in Bellingham Thursday evening was well below freezing, but inside Carver Gym the hot shooting of the No. 21 nationally-ranked Western Washington University women's basketball team fueled a 100-75 victory over in-state rival Central Washington.

Over 800 fans helped create a home-court atmosphere in Carver Gym with the Vikings improving to 7-0 on WECU Court this season, 11-3 overall and 3-1 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

Wearing a new set of light blue uniforms for the first time, the Vikings shot a season-best 59.1-percent connecting on 39-of-61 shots from the field and were 14-for-28 from three-point range. WWU also dished out a season-high 31 assists, out-rebounded Central 42-26 and limited the Wildcats to a 36.9-percent shooting percentage.

The first half featured back-and-forth action with six lead changes, resulting in a 35-35 tie through the first two quarters. Western opened the third quarter on a 14-2 run, jump-starting one of the best second-half performances in program history. WWU scored 65 points in the second half (34 in 3rd quarter, 31 in 4th quarter), falling just two points shy of the team record for points in a half (67 vs. Sheldon Jackson in 1987).

The Vikings balanced offense featured six players scoring in double-digits, led by the eighth double-double of the season by senior All-American forward Brooke Walling's 21-point, 12-rebound, 5-assist performance on 9-for-10 shooting. Junior guard Riley Dykstra was nearly perfect from long distance going 5-for-6 from beyond the arc in her 15-point, 6-assist effort and junior guard Maddy Grandbois contributed 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting to go along with a lockdown defensive effort.

Junior forward Aspen Garrison, junior guard Olivia Wikstrom and freshman guard Demi Dykstra all scored 14 points to help the Vikings reach the 100-point mark for the first time this season and 29th time in program history. Wikstrom keyed the Vikings rebounding advantage with a game-high 13 boards to record her first double-double of the season. Senior guard Stephanie Peterson guided the offense with a collegiate career-high eight assists. 

Central Washington (12-5, 3-2) had four players score in double-digits led by 15 points by Annalee Coronado and 13 from Capri Sims. Central guards Asher Cai and Valerie Huerta entered the game as the top two scorers in the conference each averaging over 20 points a game, but were limited to 15 combined points in the game. 

Junior guard Riley Dykstra was selected as the WECU Player of the Game with her 15-point performance that included five three-pointers. Dykstra fueled the 65-point second half with four of her five three-pointers and fueled a 21-6 third-quarter run with 12 points to help the Vikings to pull away for the 25-point victory.

The Vikings (11-3, 3-1 GNAC) remains at home hosting Northwest Nazarene on Saturday with tip-off at 7 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The complete season schedule, complete with links on how to watch the games, can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/WBB.

The Vikings have won four consecutive games and five of the last six meetings vs. CWU, including sweeping the regular-season series last season. WWU leads the all-time series over the Wildcats 102-17 with a 13-7 advantage in the last 20 meetings dating back to the 2015-16 season. Thursday marked the third time in the 119-game all-time series the Vikings have reached the 100-point mark in a game vs. the Wildcats, and first since the 1981-82 season.

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

Here is an updated look at the 2023-24 GNAC Women's Basketball standings following Thursday's games:

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 100-75 win over CWU:

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 and at Harrington Field. 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. 

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.

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 678, 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 1,110 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.