BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team battled No. 3 Montana State Billings in the GNAC opener for both teams Thursday night on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

The Vikings and Yellowjackets changed leads eight times and had eight tie scores, with the Yellowjackets pulling away down the stretch for the 64-58 victory. WWU erases a nine-point second half deficit taking the lead at 55-54 on a Alyson Deaver layup with 2:26 remaining in the game, but MSUB finished on a 10-3 run to grab the six-point victory.

WWU had its three-game winning streak snapped to fall even its season record at 4-4, while MSUB improved to 8-1 on the season while winning its seventh consecutive game. The Yellowjackets entered the game ranked No. 3 in the nation in the WBCA Coaches Poll and No. 16 in the D2CSC Media Poll.

The game was a re-match of the last two GNAC Championship finals, both won by the Vikings in instant classics.

WWU was again limited due to injuries with 57 of the 58 points scored by the five starters. The Vikings shot 23-for-50 (.460) from the field, but went 2-for-8 from three-point range.

Sophomore guard Demi Dykstra led Western with 14 points on 7-for-11 shooting, with 10 of the 14 points coming in the second half. Deaver recorded a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double, senior guard Olivia Wikstrom had 12 points and six rebounds and senior guard Maddy Grandbois contributed 12 points and three blocked shots.

The depleted Vikings – who have four players currently out with injuries – also battled foul trouble with three players fouling out and 25 total fouls called against the team.

Dyauni Boyce led MSUB with 19 points and five rebounds and Aspen Giese had 17 points on 5-for-12 shooting with four three-pointers. 

The Vikings (4-4, 0-1 GNAC) remain at home hosting Seattle Pacific 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.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Montana State Billings:

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

WWU continues to hold a lead in the all-time series 31-20 with nine wins in the last 13 meetings. Thursday was a re-match of the GNAC Championship Final each of the last two years, both won by the Vikings. Two teams meet again on March 1 in Billings.

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2024-25 season following the 64-58 loss to No. 3 Montana State Billings:

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 695, 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 1,127 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.