ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team used a strong second half to pull away from Biola to record a 61-51 victory Friday afternoon to open play at the CWU Thanksgiving Tournament in Nicholson Pavilion.

WWU trailed 28-25 at the half but used a dominating third quarter out-scoring the Eagles 21-11 en route to the 10-point victory. Playing for the first time in 13 days, the Vikings won their second consecutive game to improve to 3-3 on the season, while Biola dropped to 0-6.

The Vikings big third quarter was propelled by 10-2 run over the final 5:37 of the stanza to turn the three-point halftime deficit into a seven-point lead at 46-39. WWU closed out the victory holding a 15-12 advantage over BU in the final quarter to earn the victory.

Junior forward Alyson Deaver and sophomore guard Demi Dykstra led the Vikings with 13 points each, which had four players reach double-digits in scoring. Deaver neared a double-double adding nine rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Dykstra also filled up the stat sheet with eight rebounds, three steals and a pair of assists.

Senior guard Olivia Wikstrom contributed 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and led the Vikings with four steals. Senior guard Maddy Grandbois added 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Western was held to 41.5-percent shooting (22-for-53), but forced 18 turnovers and recorded a season-high 14 steals.

Biola was led by Sammie Henley and Laila Walker tying for the team high with 13 points. The Eagles made nine three-pointers, including going 6-for-13 in the first half.

The Vikings (3-3) return to action Saturday taking on Westminster at noon to wrap up play at the CWU Thanksgiving Tournament. 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 Biola:

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 61-51 victory over Biola:

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 694, 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 1,126 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.