BURNABY, B.C. – Led by a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double from Alyson Deaver and 20 points by Libby Stump, the Western Washington University women's basketball team powered past Simon Fraser for a 78-69 victory Saturday evening in GNAC play inside West Gym.

WWU improved to 11-7 overall and finished the first half of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play tied for 4th place in the standings with a 6-3 record. SFU dropped to 10-8 overall and 3-6 in league play.

The Vikings trailed 34-33 at the half, but used a 27-point third quarter to build a double-digit lead before settling for the nine-point victory over their border rival. WWU out-scored SFU 45-35 in the second half.

Deaver recorded her second double-double of the season while falling one point short of her single-game career high of 24 points set earlier this season vs. Cal State San Marcos. The Utah Tech transfer was 8-for-16 shooting, 2-for-3 from three-point range and 5-for-6 from the free throw line.

Playing in her third game since coming back from a knee injury, Stump filled up the basket going 9-for-15 from the field for 20 points. Senior guard Olivia Wikstrom added 14 points with eight coming in the second quarter and junior guard Mason Oberg contributed 10 points. 

WWU received a season-high 24 points from its bench to bolster the strong team effort.

Sophia Wisotzki, the No. 3 ranked scorer in NCAA Division II, scored a game-high 27 points on 8-for-22 shooting and 9-for-11 from the free throw line. Myrlaine Shelvey added 13 points and six rebounds. 

The Vikings went on a 12-4 run in the third quarter to turn a two-point deficit at 39-37 into a six-point lead at 49-43 following back-to-back three-pointers by Mason Oberg and Libby Stump. WWU led by at least four points the remainder of the way while recording the nine-point victory.

The Vikings (11-7, 6-3 GNAC) returns home after a three-game road swing opening the second half of the GNAC season hosting Saint Martin's on Thursday (Jan. 30) and Western Oregon on Saturday (Feb. 1) with both games featuring a 7 pm tip-off. Tickets are available for purchase at wwuvikings.com/Tickets. The complete season schedule, 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 Simon Fraser:

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

WWU now leads the all-time series 57-38 with a 24-8 record since SFU joined the NCAA in 2010-11. The two teams will meet again in Bellingham on Saturday, February 22 (7 pm). WWU and SFU split the season series last year with each team winning on its home court.

Here is a look at the 2024-25 GNAC Women's Basketball standings and overall records following Saturday's games. Updated standings and conference statistics can be viewed online at GNACSports.com. The top six teams in the conference standings at the end of the regular season will qualify for the GNAC Championships held March 6-8 in Lacey:

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2024-25 season following Saturday's 78-69 victory at SFU:

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 7-2, 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 1,134 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.