The Western women’s basketball team is looking to make its first national championship appearance in program history.
Standing in the Vikings’ way is No. 1 North Georgia.
The No. 5 seed Vikings will battle the Nighthawks Wednesday in Birmingham, Alabama with a trip to the national title game on the line.
Western has been in the Final Four two other times in 2013 and 2000, falling short and missing the chance to play in the championship game.
The Vikings are led by senior Emma Duff who is averaging 15.6 points and seven rebounds per game. Sophomore Brooke Walling, the West Regional Tournament MVP, is averaging 9.7 points per game this season, but is putting up an astounding 17.3 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game this postseason.
Western is also led by a trio of Whatcom County talent.
Katrina Gimmaka and Avery and Riley Dykstra, all of Everson, have played significant roles this season for the Vikings with Gimmaka coming off the bench and the Dykstras as part of the starting lineup. Gimmaka is a Nooksack Valley High School graduate and the Dykstra sisters both attended Lynden Chrisitian High School.
Avery and Riley are the latest of a long line of Dykstras to find athletic success at Western. Uncle Grant is in the WWU Athletics Hall of Fame, Uncle Greg was an all-conference football player and their Aunt Kelly was an all-conference basketball star for the Vikings.
If Western wants to advance to its first national title game, it’ll have to shut down North Georgia, who hasn’t lost since Feb. 9, and its leading-scorer Julianna Sutton. She averages 16.1 points per game and is also the team’s leading rebounder averaging 9.6 boards a game.
As a team, the Nighthawks average 70.3 points a game and 58.2 points against. They shoot 43.5% from the field and 35.5% from beyond the arc.
In contrast, the Vikings average 69.6 points a game while giving up 57. Western shoots at a 44.1% clip from the field and 33.1% from 3-point land. The Vikings’ defense has been a brick wall for opposing offenses as they have limited opponents to 34.5% shooting all season.
In addition to its defense, Western’s depth has paid dividends this postseason, especially in the 58-55 Elite Eight victory against No. 4 Valdosta State.
Wednesday will be the first time Western has played North Georgia in program history.
Western head coach Carmen Dolfo is in her 31st season leading the Vikings and has never advanced beyond the Final Four.
Whether or not the third time’s the charm in the Final Four for Dolfo and the Vikings will unfold at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific) Wednesday when both teams take the court. The game will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network. Check local listings for extended sports packages or subscribe to Fubo TV, YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV to watch. A watch party is being held at B-Town Kitchen and Raw Bar at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel.
