BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 17 nationally-ranked Western Washington University women's basketball team extended its winning streak to six consecutive games with a 73-61 victory over Seattle Pacific University Thursday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

The Vikings celebrated WECU Night with a Victor E. Viking Bobblehead giveaway by remaining perfect at 9-0 in home games this season. WWU improved to 15-3 overall and remains in 2nd place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings at 7-1. The 12-point victory sets up a Saturday showdown with No. 9 and first-place Montana State Billings.

Western led nearly wire-to-wire while recording its 11th consecutive victory over SPU, but had to hold off several Falcon runs to extend the winning streak in the series. SPU trailed by just three points late in the second quarter, but the Vikings ended the first half on a 10-2 run to take a 36-25 lead into halftime. The Falcons went on an 8-0 run early in the third quarter to trim its deficit to five points at 40-35, but WWU answered with 10 consecutive points.

Senior guard Stephanie Peterson filled up the stat sheet for her first double-double as a Viking with 15 points and 10 rebounds, adding five assists, five steals and three blocked shots. Peterson's big scoring night lifts her to within 23 points of 1,000 for her collegiate career.

Senior All-American forward Brooke Walling gave another sterling performance with a game-high 20 points, also adding six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a pair of blocked shots. Entering the night at the NCAA II leader in field goal percentage, Walling connected on 8-of-13 shots and was 4-for-5 from the free throw line.

The guard combo of Riley Dykstra (11 pts, 5-for-9 FG) and Mason Oberg (10 pts, 3-for-7 FG) also scored in double-digits. WWU shot 52.9-percent from the field (27-for-51) and was 7-for-17 from three-point range.

SPU (6-12, 3-5) was led by 14 points and six rebounds each by Olivia Mayer and Layne Kearns. 
 

Senior guard Steph Peterson filled the stat sheet to earn the WECU Player of the Game. Peterson recorded a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double, adding 5 assists, 5 steals and 3 blocked shots. She was 4-for-8 shooting from the floor (1-for-2 3FG) and went 6-for-7 from the free throw line.

The Vikings (15-3, 7-1 GNAC) continue their four-game homestand hosting first-place and No. 9 nationally-ranked Montana State Billings (17-3, 8-0) on Saturday (Jan. 27) with tip-off at 7 pm in Carver Gym. 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 Vikings record breakdown for the 2023-24 season:

WWU extended its winning streak over SPU to 11 consecutive games, a string of victories that dates back to the 2018-29 season…the 11-game winning streak is the longest by the Vikings over the Falcons during the Division II era (since 1998-99)…WWU leads the all-time series 72-33.
 

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

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

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2023-24 season following 73-61 win over SPU:

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 682, 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 1,114 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.