BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University women's basketball team will get the chance to play for the GNAC Championships title on its home court Saturday evening.

 

The Vikings won their ninth consecutive game improving to 12-0 in Carver Gym this season with a 66-55 victory over Western Oregon University in Friday's GNAC Championships Semifinal. The No. 1 seed Vikings (24-6) play No. 6 seed Montana State Billings in the championship game Saturday with tip-off scheduled for 5 pm.

 

WWU advanced to the GNAC Championships title game for the 11th time and has won the tournament on four previous occasions (2013, 2014, 2023, 2024), including an instant classic in 2023 defeating MSUB 76-71 in Carver Gym.

 

The GNAC regular-season champion Vikings made their postseason debut in front of 1,127 fans in Carver Gym, earning the 11-point victory over the Wolves. WWU led by as many as 15 points in the first half and built a 12-point halftime lead at 40-28.

 

WOU fought back in the third quarter to pull to within four points, but the Vikings held off the comeback out-scoring the Wolves down the stretch.

 

The Vikings were led by a game-high 21 points on 9-for-15 shooting from junior guard Libby Stump, who added seven rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes.

 

Senior forward Olivia Hodges secured her 22nd double-double to set the WWU single-season record, scoring 15 points and recording 20 rebounds. Hodges is the NCAA Division II leader in double-doubles and passed the previous record of 21 double-doubles by Viking Hall of Famer Gina Sampson in 1995-96. The 20-rebound contest was her second in as many games to increase her season average to 13.2 boards per game.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Hodges moved into a tie for the fourth-most double-doubles in GNAC single-season history. It was her second straight game with 20 boards, as she closed the regular season with a personal-best 22 in her team's win over Montana State Billings last weekend. Friday's performance made it seven straight double-doubles for the senior.

 

Junior guard Demi Dykstra also scored in double-digits with 10 points, adding five rebounds and four assists while playing all 40 minutes.

 

The Vikings out-rebounded the Wolves 45-33 and held a 9-0 advantage in blocked shots, led by three from senior forward Aspen Garrison and two by Dykstra and Hodges.

 

Western Oregon (15-13) was led by 16 points by Ciona Wells and 13 from Mya India Thomas.

 

 

WWU faces Montana State Billings in Saturday's GNAC Championships Final. Here is fan information for the game set to tip-off at 5 pm:

 

• Game: WWU vs. Montana State Billings
• Date: Saturday, March 7
• Time: 5:00 pm
• Location: Carver Gym in Bellingham, WA
• Webcast: GNAC Network
• Tickets: Box Office opens at 4 pm outside Carver Gym
• Parking: Free in 9G and 19G lots on WWU campus

 

WWU has advanced to play in the GNAC Championships in 14 out of 15 tournaments with four titles and is 21-9 all-time in the tournament. WWU won back-to-back titles in 2023 (in Bellingham) and 2024 (in Ellensburg). With Friday's victory WWU has advanced to the tournament championship game 11 times during the 15-year history of the event.

The Vikings (24-6) advance to the GNAC Championship Final facing No. 6 seed Montana State Billings in a 5 pm game on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The NCAA Division II Selection Show will air on NCAA.com Sunday evening at 7:30 pm PT. The complete 2025-26 schedule complete with links to follow the Vikings at home and on the road will be posted at WWUVikings.com.

 

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Western Oregon:

 

 

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2025-26 season:

 

 

Here are ways you can follow the 2026 GNAC Women's Basketball Championships:

 

• Championship Website
• Tickets
• GNAC Network
• Live Stats
• Tournament History

 

WWU is serving as the host for the 2026 GNAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships held March 5-7 in Carver Gym. The top six teams in the standings for both men's and women's basketball at the end of the regular season have converged on Bellingham for the three-day tournament on WECU Court. More information on the GNAC Championships can be found at GNACSports.com with tickets currently on sale.

 

 

Thursday, March 5:

Quarterfinal 1: 12:00 pm – No. 6 Montana State Billings 69, No. 3 Saint Martin's 61

Quarterfinal 2: 2:15 pm – No. 5 Western Oregon 68, No. 4 Northwest Nazarene 67

 

Friday, March 6:

Semifinal 1: 12:00 pm – No. 6 Montana State Billings 79, No. 2 Central Washington 74

Semifinal 2: 2:15 pm – No. 1 Western Washington 66, No. 5 Western Oregon 55

 

Saturday, March 7:

Championship: 5:00 pm – No. 1 Western Washington vs. No. 6 Montana State Billings

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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WWU finished 3-0 against Western Oregon during the season, sweeping the regular season with a 62-57 home win on January 1 and 66-44 victory in Monmouth on January 31. The Vikings have won the last 11 meetings against the Wolves and are victorious in 32 of the last 34 meetings dating back to the 2008-09 season. WWU is 64-11 all-time vs. WOU.

 

The Vikings claimed their seventh GNAC regular-season title, trailing only the nine by Alaska Anchorage. WWU has won three of the last five conference regular-season titles, also winning in back-to-back seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23. WWU has also won four GNAC Tournament titles (2013, 2014, 2023, 2024) and will be going for its fifth postseason GNAC trophy next week hosting the tournament in Bellingham March 5-7.

 

 

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2025-26 schedule and results: