In one of the most lopsided conference games in program history, Western Washington University women’s basketball blew out the University of Alaska Anchorage 104-51 on Thursday night.
Anchorage led briefly, up 6-4 a few minutes into the first quarter, before Western went on a 15-0 run to go up 19-6, never relinquishing their lead for the remainder of a record-breaking day for the Vikings.
After starting the season with a heartbreaking 59-58 loss to Asuza Pacific, Western extended its winning streak to eight games. Thursday’s win was Western’s first game since Sunday, Dec. 18, after the Vikings’ final game of the Hoops in Hawai’i Classic was canceled by Chaminade University.
Nearly two weeks removed from competitive basketball, the Vikings showed no signs of rust.
“I was really impressed when they came back on the 27th and their conditioning had kept up,” said Western head coach Carmen Dolfo. “We had a game canceled, there was a big space there for us, but our players worked hard at home and that made a big difference.”
In just the second Great Northwest Athletic Conference game of the young season, the Vikings exploded offensively for 104 points, shooting an immaculate 66.1% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc.
The 104-51 win tied the record for the most points scored by Western women’s basketball against a GNAC opponent since the conference’s inception in the 2000-2001 season. The 53-point margin of victory is the largest ever for the Vikings against a GNAC opponent.
Redshirt freshman guard Mason Oberg (23) cheers on her team from the bench. Oberg led all Viking guards with 11 points and 2-of-4 shooting from behind the 3-point line. (Photo courtesy of Eric Becker)
“We shot really well, and I think we were patient and found the open person,” Dolfo said. “I don’t know that we’re going to always shoot like that, but it was certainly fun to do that tonight.”
The visiting Alaska Anchorage team came into Carver Gymnasium ranked No. 25 in the national polls and sat at 1-1 in the conference with a 9-2 overall record. UAA tried to stop Western’s offense with a flurry of full-court presses, half-court traps, and fierce man-to-man defense, but the Vikings simply could not miss from the field, easily trouncing the conference rivals.
“[Alaska Anchorage] plays such a high-pressure defense and they’re all over the place and working hard,” Dolfo said. “I think we were composed. I think we only had 11 turnovers, which against this team, was really good. I think they were smart and stayed composed.”
That composure led to an absolute pantsing of Alaska Anchorage’s defensive game plan. Led by a pair of 18-point performances from forwards Katrina Gimmaka and Brooke Walling, Western scored 64 of its 104 points in the paint.
Redshirt freshman guard Mason Oberg dribbles near a pair of Alaska Anchorage defenders. (Photo courtesy of Eric Becker)
Junior Brooke Walling had a dominant performance with 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting, 12 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Gimmaka was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field, adding four rebounds to her 18 points on the night.
“We were just ready to play a game and I think it showed tonight,” Gimmaka said. “Coach [Dolfo] is saying it in the locker room — we just picked up right after our Fairmont game in Hawaii, and I think we just all executed tonight.”
Now a formidable 8-1 on the season, the Vikings begin the conference season in earnest, looking ahead to 16 GNAC games in the next eight weeks. Western will spend New Year’s Eve playing the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Dec. 31, then head on a road trip to face Central Washington on Jan. 5 and Northwest Nazarene on Jan. 7.
“I think we’re ready,” Gimmmaka said. “It’s been a long pre-season, we’re ready to play games and get on that regular schedule of two games a week. We’re just really excited.”
