SEATTLE, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team went back-and-forth with No. 18 Azusa Pacific University before falling 88-77 in a non-conference game Friday inside Royal Brougham Pavilion.

WWU opened the SPU West Region Crossover with the 11-point loss, but stayed close to the Cougars throughout the game. WWU and APU were tied 48-48 midway through the third quarter and pulled to within two points at 69-67 with 6:04 remaining in the game, but APU hit three consecutive three-pointers to grab a 78-69 lead and didn't look back to earn the victory.

The Vikings dropped to 1-3 on the season while Azusa Pacific improved to 3-0 against West Region competition.

Senior guard Maddy Grandbois led four Vikings in double-figure scoring with a career-high 20 points on 7-for-8 shooting, including 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. Junior guard Mason Oberg added 17 points with four three-pointers, senior guard Olivia Wikstrom contributed 16 points and three steals and sophomore forward Jadyn Watts neared a double-double with a career-high 14 points and nine rebounds. Junior forward Alyson Deaver added seven points and seven boards.

APU was led by 22 points from Audrey Sayoc (8-for-10 FG) and 17 points by reigning PacWest Player of the Year Kelly Heimburger.

The Vikings tied the game 48-48 with 4:01 remaining in the third quarter before APU went on a 12-2 run to grab a 10-poitn lead at 60-50. WWU wouldn't go away however, pulling to within two points at 69-67 following a Mason Oberg three-pointer at the 6:04 mark in the final quarter. The Cougars again responded this time with a trio of three-pointers to take the 78-69 lead en route to the 11-point victory.

The Vikings got off to a strong start in the opening quarter building a 10-point lead at 15-5, but the Cougars responded with a 15-2 run to finish the quarter taking a 20-17 lead. WWU out-scored APU 19-17 in the second quarter to pull to within one point trailing 37-36 at the half. Olivia Wikstrom and Maddy Grandbois each scored 11 points in the opening half of play with the Vikings combining to shoot 41.4-percent (12-for-29) with half of their made baskets from beyond the arc (6-for-10).

The Vikings (1-3) return to action Saturday at the SPU West Region Crossover facing Cal State San Marcos at 4 pm inside Royal Brougham Pavilion. 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 Azusa Pacific:

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2024-25 season:

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2024-25 season following the 88-77 loss to No. 18 Azusa Pacific:

One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, recording a 20-win season in 11 of the last 14 full seasons, and 38 times in the 53-year history of the program. WWU has 24 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 692, winning percentage and 20-win seasons. The Vikings have reached the NCAA II Tournament in 20 of 25 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 1,124 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.