BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 14 nationally-ranked Western Washington University women's basketball team returns to the court this week opening the new year with a road trip to play the Alaska schools in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.

 

The Vikings enter the 2024 portion of the schedule Thursday facing Alaska Anchorage (6-5, 0-2 GNAC) and close out a string of five consecutive road games on Saturday at Alaska Fairbanks (2-10, 0-2 GNAC). WWU is 9-2 overall and off to a 1-0 start in conference play with 17 games remaining in the 2023-24 regular season.

 

WWU is coming off 2-1 road trip to California prior to the Holiday break, dropping a 74-69 contest at regionally-ranked Dominican and completing non-conference play with wins at Cal State East Bay (79-55) and Cal State San Bernardino (77-59).

 

Western heads into the new year ranked No. 14 in the WBCA national coaches poll and No. 19 in the D2CSC media poll, and also holds the No. 2 spot in the West Region just behind Montana State Billings.

 

The Vikings have built their 9-2 record by going 6-0 in home games on WECU Court in Carver Gym and are 3-2 away from Bellingham (3-1 away, 0-1 neutral). WWU heads into the week winners of seven of their last eight games and completed non-conference play with an 8-2 record. WWU 

 

WWU is guided by a stifling team defensive effort that leads the nation averaging 6.9 blocked shots per game, ranks 5th holding opponents to a 33.1-percent field goal percentage and is in the top 25 holding opponents 56.6 points per game. The Vikings offense has been fueled by a team shooting percentage of 44.7-percent to rank No. 31 nationally and 16.4 assists per game to leads the GNAC and rank 30th in NCAA II.

 

Senior forward Brooke Walling is having another All-America-worthy campaign averaging 17.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.9 blocks and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 63.4-percent from the field (79-for-126). Walling leads the GNAC and is tied for second in NCAA II with seven double-doubles.

 

Sophomore guard Mason Oberg is averaging 12.5 points and 2.8 assists per game, with WWU's balanced offense also receiving 9.6 points per game from junior forward Aspen Garrison, 8.4 from junior guard Riley Dykstra and 7.4 points from junior guard Olivia Wikstrom. Senior guard Steph Peterson leads the team and ranks fourth in the GNAC averaging 3.5 assists per game.

 

Following the road trip to Alaska the Vikings return home to play six of their next eight games on WECU Court in Carver Gym, beginning Thursday, January 11 hosting rival Central Washington.

 

 

A reminder that matches played in Alaska are played in Alaska Standard Time, which is one hour behind Pacific Standard Time (or Bellingham time). Thursday's game vs. UAA in Anchorage features a 7 pm local start time (8 pm in Bellingham) and Saturday's afternoon game in Fairbanks will have a 3 pm tip-off (4 pm in Bellingham).

 

Here is a look at the series history between WWU and opponents this week:

 

·         Alaska Anchorage: WWU swept the season series last year winning 104-51 at home and 62-52 on the road…the Vikings have won the last five games in the series vs. the Seawolves, the longest winning streak for WWU in the head-to-head series since also winning five straight from Feb. 19, 2004-Feb. 9, 2006…Western leads the all-time series 35-28 (according to WWU records) with a 15-13 advantage in games played in Alaska…current two-game winning streak at the Alaska Airlines Center after dropping seven straight to UAA on its home court.

·         Alaska Fairbanks: Swept the season series vs. UAF last season winning 101-57 in Carver Gym and 99-62 in Fairbanks, combining to score 200 points in the two games…WWU leads the all-time series 56-5 with a current 26-game winning streak dating back to the 2008-09 season…Western is 27-5 all-time in games played in Fairbanks with a 14-game winning streak.

 

Senior Brooke Walling crossed the 1,000-point mark for her collegiate career with a three-pointer at the 6:05 mark in the second quarter in WWU's Dec. 16 game at Cal State East Bay. Walling has combined for 1,025 points in 124 collegiate games, with 884 in 68 games with the Vikings (13.0 ppg). She began her collegiate career at Fresno State totaling 141 points in 56 games for the Bulldogs.

WWU's conference games this week in Alaska will feature live webcasts on YouTube provided by Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage. All live links are available at wwuvikings.com/Live. All home games during the 2023-24 season will stream live on YouTube via Vikings TV and every away GNAC game contest will feature a webcast on YouTube produced by the visiting team. To watch WWU home matches on your Smart TV, navigate to the YouTube application and search for WWU Athletics, or for away games search for the opposing school's YouTube channel (example: Alaska Anchorage Athletics). All WWU links to follow the Vikings online can be found online, but be sure to bookmark the following links for easy access:

 

·         Vikings TV (WWU home matches)

·         GNAC Live Streams

·         Direct Link to watch WWU games (wwuvikings.com/WBB_Watch)

·         Direct Link to follow WWU games via live stats (wwuvikings.com/WBB_Stats)

 

WWU heads into the week as one of the top defensive teams in the nation, ranking 5th in NCAA II limiting opponents to a .331 field goal percentage and recording a national-best 6.9 blocked shots per game. The Vikings are also listed No. 23 in the nation holding opponents to 56.5 points per game.

WWU enters the new year ranked No. 14 in the WBCA Coaches Poll, No. 19 in the D2CSC (College Sports Communicators) National Poll and No. 2 in the West Region. The Vikings have appeared in each of the last 39 regular-season national rankings.

 

Following the trip to Alaska to complete a string of five consecutive home games, WWU will play its first home games in over a month hosting Central Washington on Thursday, January 11 and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday, January 13 on WECU Court in Carver Gym (both 7 pm games). The complete 2023-24 WWU women's basketball schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/23-24_WBB.

 

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2023-24 season:

 

 

If you don't read anything past this portion of the preview on the Vikings, you should find out everything you need to know on the Vikings in the following bullet points:

 

·         The Record – Off to a 9-2 start to the season (1-0 in GNAC play) with 2-1 record against ranked opponents.

·         National Polls – Current national rankings of No. 14 (WBCA) and No. 19 (D2CSC).

·         High West Region Ranking – Holds No. 2 spot in D2CSC West Regional Poll.

·         Road Trippin – Concludes string of five consecutive road games this week, which began with three games in California and ends with a pair of contests in Alaska.

·         Double Doubles – Brooke Walling has recorded seven double-doubles through the first 11 games of the season to lead the GNAC…23 double-doubles during WWU career, including 11 in 2022-23.

·         Home Sweet Home – Perfect 6-0 record on WECU Court in Carver Gym this season…over last five seasons (since 2019-20) WWU is 38-4 in home games.

·         Always Dancing – Made 19th NCAA Championships appearance in 24 possible seasons in 2022-23.

·         Back-to-Back GNAC Champions – Won 2021-22 and 2022-23 GNAC regular-season titles.

·         All Around Brooke – Brooke Walling leads the team in scoring (17.4), rebounds (10.5), blocked shots (2.9) and field goal percentage (.627/79-for-126)…paces the GNAC with seven double-doubles while ranking 4th in scoring average, 1st in rebounding, 1st in field goal pct., and 2nd in blocked shots.

·         That's a SWAT – Leads all of NCAA II averaging 6.9 blocked shots per game (76 total blocked shots).

·         Defensive Lockdown – Ranks 5th in NCAA II in opponent field goal percentage holding opponents to .331 from the field (223-for-674)…also limiting teams to 56.5 points per game to lead the GNAC and rank No. 23 in NCAA II.

·         On the Mark – 2nd in the GNAC and ranks No. 31 NCAA II with .447 field goal percentage (282-for-631).

·         Postseason Pulse – Program has played in the postseason (conference, regional, NCAA) in 48 of 51 possible seasons.

·         Coach Dolfo – Head Coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 33rd season leading the program and 40th overall associated with WWU Basketball as a student-athlete and coach…all-time record of 676-257 (.725)…23 seasons with 20+ wins.

 

Here is an updated look at the 2023-24 GNAC Women's Basketball standings heading into the opening week of the 2024 portion of the schedule:

 

 

The WWU roster once again shows a pair of Dykstra's, but this year it features cousins Riley (junior guard) and Demi (freshman guard). Riley teamed with her older sister Avery (graduated last year) the last three years playing together in a pair of NCAA Championships appearances. Riley and Demi are the latest in a long line of Dykstra family members 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. Demi's father, Greg, was an all-conference football player, and mother, Kelly, was an all-conference basketball player. The Dykstra cousins are local products that prepped at Lynden Christian, playing two years in high school together.

 

Over the last four seasons (since 2019-20), the Vikings have combined to go 86-21 for a .804 winning percentage. WWU is the two-time defending GNAC regular-season champions and played in the 2022 NCAA II National Championship Game.

Seniors Brooke Walling (transfer from Fresno State) recently reached 1,000 career collegiate points and Steph Peterson (transfer from Cameron) is nearing the milestone scoring mark. Here is a look at their collegiate points nearing the scoring milestone:

 

·         Brooke Walling (1025 points – 884 in 68 games at WWU, 141 in 56 games at Fresno State)

·         Steph Peterson (921 points – 158 in 39 games at WWU, 763 in 73 games at Cameron)

 

Here is a listing of individual honors for Viking players during the 2023-24 season:

 

Brooke Walling:

·         WWU Veterans Day Classic MVP

·         Lynda Goodrich Classic All-Tournament Team

·         Preseason All-GNAC & GNAC Player of the Year

·         GNAC Player of the Week (Nov. 6-12 & Dec. 11-19)

Stephanie Peterson:

·         Lynda Goodrich Classic All-Tournament Team

Riley Dykstra: 

·         WWU Veterans Day Classic All-Tournament Team

·         Lynda Goodrich Classic All-Tournament Team

·         Preseason All-GNAC

Mason Oberg:

·         Lynda Goodrich Classic All-Tournament Team

·         Preseason All-GNAC

Aspen Garrison:

·         WWU Veterans Day Classic All-Tournament Team

WWU is coming off a double GNAC Championship season in 2022-23, winning both the regular season and postseason conference titles. WWU won its sixth GNAC regular-season title, adding to championships won 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 and again last season.

 

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2023-24 season heading into the Alaskan road trip:

 

 

The Vikings reached the 20-win mark (24-4) in 2022-23, marking the 37th 20-win season in the 52-year history of the program, and 23rd in 32 seasons under head coach Carmen Dolfo.

 

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. Free parking is also available for all home games in the 19G Lot near the Rec Center with more information available at wwuvikings.com/Parking.

 

The two-time defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion WWU women's basketball team will open the 2023-24 season picked to finish runner-up in the annual preseason coaches poll. The Vikings are coming off an impressive 24-4 season, winning the league title with a 16-2 record and claiming the GNAC Tournament title with an instant-classic 76-71 win over Montana State Billings in the final on WECU Court in Carver Gym. Making its third consecutive trip to the NCAA postseason, Western was upended in the first round of the West Regional by Azusa Pacific. MSUB was picked to finish just ahead of WWU in the GNAC preseason poll with 94 points and five first-place votes. Western was just back of the Yellowjackets with 91 points and four first-place votes. Alaska Anchorage picked up the final first-place vote in the No. 3 spot with 75 points. Simon Fraser (68) and Central Washington (66) round out the top five.

 

 

Head coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 33rd season leading the program, owning an all-time record of 676-257 (.725) to rank amongst the active and career leaders at the NCAA Division II level for career wins and winning percentage. Entering the 2023-24 season, Dolfo ranked 11th all-time in NCAA II in wins. Dolfo has led the Vikings to 19 trips to the NCAA Championships and a trio of Elite 8 appearances. 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 23 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 2023-24 coaching staff includes 12th-year assistant head coach Stacey Turrell, assistant coach Bobbi Westendorf, volunteer assistant Mike Li, and student assistants George Irwin, Ben Allen and Grant Brewer.

 

Two WWU women's basketball coaches have more than 400 career victories, with current head coach Carmen Dolfo amassing 676 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 1108-392 for a career winning percentage of .739.

 

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.