BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 13 nationally-ranked Western Washington University women's basketball team had its eight-game winning streak snapped Saturday in a 77-69 loss to nemesis Alaska Anchorage.
WWU has only two conference losses in GNAC play this season, both coming against the Seawolves.
In addition to the eight-game overall winning streak being snapped, the Vikings were dealt its first loss in Carver Gym this season in 12 games and had its 15-game home winning streak snapped dating back to last season.
UAA built a 22-17 lead through the first quarter of play, but Western used an 11-0 run spanning the first and second quarters to lead 25-22 early in the second frame. The Seawolves answered with an 11-3 run of their own and never trailed the rest of the way for the eight-point victory over the Vikings.
The Seawolves led by as many as 14 points in the second half, but the Vikings made it a two possession game with just under a minute remaining in regulation following a 7-0 run. UAA converted its free throws down the stretch to hold off any WWU comeback attempt.
Senior All-American forward Brooke Walling led the Vikings with a near triple-double, totaling 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Walling added three steals and one blocked shot while connecting on 6-of-10 shots from the field and 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
Junior forward Aspen Garrison (17 points, 7-for-11 FG), sophomore guard Mason Oberg (14 points) and junior guard Olivia Wikstrom (10 points) also scored in double-digits for the Vikings. WWU was limited to 6-for-25 shooting from three-point range.
UAA received a game-high 28 points from Senya Rabouin (10-for-16 FG, 5-for-7 3FG) and 14 points by Kate Robertson (5-for-8 FG, 4-for-4 FT).
Gallery: (2-3-2024) WBB | WWU vs. UAA (Pink Night)
Senior forward Brooke Walling neared a triple double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists Saturday vs. UAA. Walling recorded her GNAC-leading 11th double-double of the season while shooting 6-for-10 from the field and perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Walling also had three steals and one blocked shot while playing 39 of the 40 minutes.
The Vikings (17-4, 9-2 GNAC) are back on the road next week following the four-game homestand. WWU travels to play at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday (Feb. 8, 5:15 pm MT) and at Central Washington on Saturday in Ellensburg (Feb. 10, 4 pm). 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:
|
RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall
|
17-4
|
|
GNAC
|
9-2
|
|
Non-Conference
|
8-2
|
|
Streak
|
L1
|
|
Home
|
11-1
|
|
Away
|
6-2
|
|
Neutral
|
0-1
|
|
vs. Ranked Teams
|
3-1
|
|
Leading at Half
|
15-1
|
|
Trailing at Half
|
1-3
|
|
Tied at Half
|
1-0
|
|
Overtime
|
1-0
|
|
BY UNIFORM
|
|
White
|
9-0
|
|
Black
|
2-3
|
|
Navy
|
3-0
|
|
Light Blue
|
3-1
|
SERIES HISTORY VS. ALASKA ANCHORAGE
Alaska Anchorage swept the regular season series vs. WWU also winning 61-54 in Anchorage on January 4. Both of WWU's losses in conference play are to UAA. Prior to this year, Western had won five consecutive games against the Seawolves. The Vikings are now 35-30 all-time vs. Anchorage (according to WWU records) with an 18-11 record in home games (three-game winning streak snapped tonight).
Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Alaska Anchorage:
|
COMPARISON
|
WWU
|
UAA
|
|
Points
|
69
|
77
|
|
Field Goal Pct.
|
.436 (24-55)
|
.466 (27-58)
|
|
3 Point FG Pct.
|
.240 (6-25)
|
.444 (8-18)
|
|
Free Throw Pct.
|
.789 (15-19)
|
.652 (15-23)
|
|
Rebounds
|
32
|
30
|
|
Offensive Rebounds
|
11
|
10
|
|
Assists
|
19
|
14
|
|
Turnovers
|
19
|
14
|
|
Steals
|
9
|
11
|
|
Blocked Shots
|
3
|
1
|
|
Time Led
|
2:08
|
35:55
|
|
Points off Turnovers
|
14
|
30
|
|
Points in the Paint
|
30
|
24
|
|
Bench Points
|
17
|
21
|
|
Fouls
|
20
|
21
|
|
Biggest Lead
|
3
|
14
|
|
Lead Changes: 2 Times Tied: 1
|
Here is an updated look at the 2023-24 GNAC Women's Basketball standings following Saturday's games. WWU slipped into the second spot in the standings at 9-2 in conference play.
|
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
|
CONF
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
1.
|
Montana State Billings
|
10-1
|
.909
|
19-4
|
.826
|
10-1
|
6-2
|
3-1
|
W2
|
|
2.
|
Western Washington
|
9-2
|
.818
|
17-4
|
.810
|
11-1
|
6-2
|
0-1
|
L1
|
|
3.
|
Alaska Anchorage
|
7-4
|
.636
|
13-7
|
.650
|
6-3
|
6-4
|
1-0
|
W1
|
|
4.
|
Central Washington
|
5-6
|
.455
|
14-9
|
.609
|
6-3
|
4-4
|
4-2
|
L3
|
|
|
Simon Fraser
|
5-6
|
.455
|
13-11
|
.542
|
4-6
|
6-4
|
3-1
|
W3
|
|
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
5-6
|
.455
|
8-10
|
.444
|
5-2
|
2-6
|
1-2
|
L2
|
|
|
Seattle Pacific
|
5-6
|
.455
|
8-13
|
.381
|
7-2
|
0-9
|
1-2
|
W2
|
|
8.
|
Western Oregon
|
3-7
|
.300
|
10-11
|
.476
|
8-3
|
2-5
|
0-3
|
L2
|
|
|
Saint Martin's
|
3-7
|
.300
|
5-12
|
.294
|
4-4
|
1-6
|
0-2
|
W1
|
|
10.
|
Alaska Fairbanks
|
2-9
|
.181
|
4-17
|
.190
|
4-2
|
0-11
|
0-4
|
L2
|
|
This Week's GNAC Schedule
|
|
Thursday, February 1:
at Seattle Pacific 76, Central Washington 65
at Montana State Billings 79, Northwest Nazarene 57
at Simon Fraser 79, Alaska Anchorage 72 (OT)
at Western Washington 72, Alaska Fairbanks 55
Saturday, February 3:
at Simon Fraser 83, Alaska Fairbanks 68
at Saint Martin's 73, Western Oregon 58
at Seattle Pacific 73, Northwest Nazarene 71
at Montana State Billings 75, Central Washington 70
Alaska Anchorage 77, at Western Washington 69
|
Here is a game-by-game look at the 2023-24 season following the 77-69 loss to UAA:
|
Record: 17-4 GNAC: 9-2 Home: 11-1 Away: 6-2 Neutral: 0-1
|
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
|
Score
|
Top Scorer
|
Top Rebounder
|
|
11/10
|
Cal State Dominguez Hills(#11)
|
W
|
70-47
|
Oberg (16)
|
Walling (10)
|
|
11/11
|
Cal State LA
|
W
|
76-69 OT
|
Walling (26)
|
Walling (13)
|
|
11/17
|
vs. Cal State San Marcos (#22)
|
L
|
73-68
|
Walling (25)
|
Walling/Garrison (7)
|
|
11/18
|
@Azusa Pacific (#12)
|
W
|
62-46
|
Oberg (18)
|
Walling (13)
|
|
11/24
|
MSU Moorhead
|
W
|
63-43
|
Garrison (20)
|
Walling (13)
|
|
11/25
|
Hawai'i Pacific
|
W
|
80-44
|
Walling (16)
|
R. Dykstra (6)
|
|
11/30
|
Biola
|
W
|
70-54
|
Walling (22)
|
Walling/R. Dykstra (7)
|
|
12/2
|
Simon Fraser (GNAC)
|
W
|
64-57
|
Walling (20)
|
Walling (10)
|
|
12/14
|
@Dominican
|
L
|
74-69
|
Peterson/R. Dykstra (12)
|
Walling (16)
|
|
12/16
|
@Cal State East Bay
|
W
|
79-55
|
Walling (21)
|
Walling (9)
|
|
12/18
|
@Cal State San Bernardino
|
W
|
77-59
|
Wikstrom (17)
|
Walling (14)
|
|
1/4
|
@Alaska Anchorage
|
L
|
61-54
|
Walling (19)
|
R. Dykstra (8)
|
|
1/6
|
@Alaska Fairbanks
|
W
|
86-45
|
R. Dykstra (20)
|
Walling (7)
|
|
1/11
|
Central Washington (GNAC)
|
W
|
100-75
|
Walling (21)
|
Wikstrom (13)
|
|
1/13
|
Northwest Nazarene (GNAC)
|
W
|
88-60
|
R. Dykstra (23)
|
Walling (11)
|
|
1/18
|
@Saint Martin's
|
W
|
52-49
|
Wikstrom (14)
|
R. Dykstra (8)
|
|
1/20
|
@Western Oregon
|
W
|
77-61
|
Walling (17)
|
Wikstrom (8)
|
|
1/25
|
Seattle Pacific (GNAC)
|
W
|
73-61
|
Walling (20)
|
Peterson (10)
|
|
1/27
|
MSU Billings (GNAC) (#9)
|
W
|
76-68
|
Walling (18)
|
Peterson (9)
|
|
2/1
|
Alaska Fairbanks (GNAC)
|
W
|
72-55
|
R. Dykstra (19)
|
Walling (11)
|
|
2/3
|
Alaska Anchorage (GNAC)
|
L
|
77-69
|
Walling (18)
|
Walling (10)
|
|
2/8
|
@Northwest Nazarene
|
|
|
5:15 PM MT
|
|
|
2/10
|
@Central Washington
|
|
|
4:00 PM
|
|
|
2/15
|
Western Oregon (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 PM
|
|
|
2/17
|
Saint Martin's (GNAC)
|
|
|
7:00 PM
|
|
|
2/22
|
@Montana State Billings
|
|
|
7:00 PM MT
|
|
|
2/24
|
@Seattle Pacific
|
|
|
4:15 PM
|
|
|
3/2
|
@Simon Fraser
|
|
|
5:15 PM
|
|
|
GNAC Basketball Championships – March 7-9 in Ellensburg, WA (Nicholson Pavilion)
|
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 684, 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 1,116 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.
