BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Sophomore guard Demi Dykstra scored a career-high 25 points to help lead the Western Washington University women's basketball team to a 79-56 victory over Saint Martin's University Thursday in GNAC play.

WWU led wire-to-wire after scoring the opening basket just four seconds into the game. The Vikings recorded the 23-point victory to improve to 12-7 overall and move into a three way tie for third place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings at 7-3.

The Vikings used a fast-paced 26-point third quarter to turn a 37-29 halftime lead into a 63-38 advantage heading into the final quarter. WWU shot a season-best 58.8-percent in the game (30-for-51) while holding the Saints to 19-for-59 shooting (32.2%).

Dykstra was 8-for-11 shooting, including 3-for-4 from three-point range, and perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line to score the 25 points, the most by a Viking in a game this season.

Junior guard Mason Oberg (12 points), senior guard Olivia Wikstrom (10 points) and junior forward Alyson Deaver (10 points) also contributed double-digits scoring in the contest. Sophomore forward Jadyn Watts led the team with seven rebounds and Wikstrom tallied four of the Vikings season-high-tying 14 steals. WWU's defense also forced 25 Saint Martin's turnovers, leading to 27 points.

Saint Martin's (11-7, 4-6 GNAC) was coming off a 79-58 victory over Northwest Nazarene last weekend, but never led in Thursday's game on WECU Court in Carver Gym. Jada Travis led the Saints with 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting, going 6-for-7 from beyond the arc. Sarah Lamet added 15 points and five rebounds for SMU.

The Vikings pulled away from the Saints with a dominating third quarter, out-scoring Saint Martin's 26-9 to take a 63-38 lead into the final quarter. WWU used a 15-2 run to open the third quarter to pull away from the Saints on the way to the 23-point victory.

The Vikings (12-7, 7-3 GNAC) remain at home hosting Western Oregon on Saturday (Feb. 1) with tip-off scheduled for 7 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. 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 Saint Martin's:

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

WWU recorded the regular-season sweep over the Saints also winning 63-50 on the road on January 4. The Vikings extended their winning streak over SMU to 10 consecutive and how now won 35 of the last 36 over the Saints since 2008. Thursday's 23-point victory extended WWU's home winning streak over SMU to 32 consecutive games (30-0 in Carver Gym). Western now leads the all-time series 60-3.

Here is a look at the 2024-25 GNAC Women's Basketball standings and overall records following Thursday'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 the 23-point win over Saint Martin's:

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 703, 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 1,135 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.