BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team officially punched its ticket to the postseason following its 68-50 victory over Alaska Fairbanks Saturday night on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

WWU clinched one of the six spots for the GNAC Championships that will be played May 6-8 at Marcus Pavilion in Lacey. The Vikings are the two-time defending postseason GNAC champions and have now advanced to play in the conference tournament in 13 of its 14 seasons.

The Vikings 18-point victory over the Nanooks improved the team to 15-9 overall and remains in 4th place in the GNAC standings at 10-5. WWU has three regular-season games remaining with its home finale next Saturday vs. Simon Fraser for Senior Night at 7 pm.

Western scored six consecutive points to end the first quarter to grab a 13-11 lead and out-scored the Nanooks 19-12 in the second quarter to take a 32-23 lead into the halftime break. WWU pulled away in the second half to improve to 12-0 when leading at halftime.

Sophomore guard Demi Dykstra led all players with 20 points on 9-for-20 shooting, going 2-for-4 from beyond the arc and had five rebounds, had three assists and recorded two blocked shots. Junior forward Alyson Deaver contributed 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting and junior guard Mason Oberg had 14 points and six assists. Senior guard Maddy Grandbois grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

The Vikings shot 45.8-percent for the game (27-for-59) and held a decisive 42-30 advantage in rebounding. WWU's defense limited UAF to 28.6-percent shooting (16-for-56) and 6-for-24 from three-point range.

Miranda Lomax led UAF (6-16, 1-13 GNAC) with 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting and Jayda Van Dyke contributed 11 points. 

The Vikings (15-9, 10-5 GNAC) are back in action next Saturday hosting Simon Fraser in a 7 pm game on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The game vs. the Red Leafs will be the final home contest of the season with Senior Night celebrating Olivia Wikstrom and Maddy Grandbois. The complete season schedule, with links on how to watch the games, can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/WBB.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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WWU will host WECU Night next Saturday with a doubleheader against Simon Fraser with the men's game at 3 pm and the women's game at 7 pm for Senior Night. WECU Night features up to four free tickets for WECU members by showing their card at the box office. A free WECU/WWU scarf will also be given away to the first 300 fans at each game.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Alaska Fairbanks:

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

WWU clinched the season sweep over UAF adding Saturday's 68-50 win to the 67-37 victory in Fairbanks on January 16. The Vikings have won 30 consecutive games against the Nanooks dating back to the 2008-09 season and lead the all-time series 60-5. WWU remained perfect in home games vs. UAF improving to 29-0.

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. Alaska Anchorage, Montana State Billings, Central Washington and WWU have all punched their ticket to the GNAC postseason tournament.

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2024-25 season following the 18-point victory over Alaska Fairbanks:

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 706, 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 1,138 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.