The Doug Lange Network 

December 17, 2018 

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BELLINGHAM, Wash – The Western Washington University women’s basketball team returns to action tonight hosting the 2018 Viking Holiday Hoops Classic on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

 

The two-day, four-game tournament features the Vikings, Lubbock Christian, Stanislaus State and Simon Fraser. Games will be played at 5 pm and 7:30 pm on Monday (Dec. 17) and Tuesday (Dec. 18), with the Vikings playing in the 7:30 pm game each day. 

 

The Vikings (6-2, 2-0 GNAC) take a five-game winning streak into the tournament and will be returning to action for the first time since opening Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Nov. 27 and Dec. 1. WWU has taken the last two weeks off for final exams and will be playing after an extended 15-day break. 

 

Here is a look at the tournament schedule that will close out the non-conference portion of WWU’s 2018-19 schedule:

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SPECIAL $4 TICKETS

All games for the Viking Holiday Hoops Classic will feature special $4 general admission tickets…the Carver Gym Box Office will open at 4 pm each day of the two-day tournament.

 

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN

All fans will have the chance to have their picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus starting at 6:30 pm on both Monday and Tuesday…pictures will be provided complimentary with Mr. and Mrs. Claus stationed in the Carver Gym entry.

 

ODDS & ENDS

• Winning Streak – WWU has a current 5-game winning streak that started with a buzzer-beater 3-pointer in a 77-74 victory over nationally ranked Azusa Pacific on Nov. 17.

• West Region Poll – WWU is listed No. 8 in the D2SIDA West Region Poll.

• Assist Leader – Dani Iwami is tied for 2nd in the GNAC averaging 4.8 assists per game.

• Crashing the Boards – WWU leads the GNAC and ranks 17th in NCAA II averaging 45.5 rebounds per game.

• Carver Gym – WWU is 4-1 in Carver Gym this season, and owns an all-time 466-83 (.849) record in Carver Gym…head coach Carmen Dolfo is 272-50 (.849) in the on-campus venue.

 

UP NEXT

Following the Holiday Hoops Classic WWU will return to GNAC play making its annual road trip to Alaska facing Alaska Fairbanks on Jan. 3 (Thursday, 5:15 pm AKT/6:15 pm PT) and Alaska Anchorage on Jan. 5 (Saturday, 7:30 pm AKT/8:15 pm PT)…WWU is 2-0 in conference play to head into the new year in a three-way first place tie with Northwest Nazarene and Seattle Pacific.

 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

• Lubbock Christian » The Chaparrals are 7-4 overall and head into the Viking Holiday Hoops Classic with a two-game losing streak…opened the season 5-0 and climbed to as high as No. 10 in the WBCA Division II Top 25 poll…led by senior guard Olivia Robertson, who averages 15.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game…LCU was the 2016 NCAA Division II national champions…marks the first meeting between WWU and Lubbock Christian.

• Stanislaus State » The Warriors are 1-6 on the season and have dropped three straight heading into the Viking Holiday Hoops Classic…play Fresno State in an exhibition game Friday night before heading to Bellingham…will be the fourth meeting between WWU and Stanislaus State, with the Vikings holding a 2-1 lead in the all-time series…two teams last met in 2006 in Rohnert Park, California with a 76-61 WWU victory in the Sonoma State Tournament.

 

LAST TIME OUT

The Vikings opened GNAC play with a pair of victories, 70-62 at Simon Fraser (11/27) and 63-57 at home vs. Montana State Billings (12/1)…junior center Anna Schwecke led the way for the WWU sweep averaging 22.0 points and 13.5 rebounds per game to earn GNAC Player of the Week honors…overall the Vikings shot 42.0% from the field in the two games (50-for-119) and out-rebounded SFU and MSUB 48-29…junior guard Lexie Bland averaged 13.0 points per game, including a career-high 18 points vs. MSUB and sophomore forward Kelsey Rogers averaged 13.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.

 

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-- @WWUWBB --