Kelsey Rogers again led the Vikings in scoring with a team-high 15 point. PHOTO: WWU Athletics
WWU Women Fall to No. 14 Alaska Anchorage
January 6, 2019
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Western Washington University women’s basketball team was dealt its first Great Northwest Athletic Conference defeat of the season, falling 68-50 to No. 14 nationally-ranked Alaska Anchorage Saturday night at the Alaska Airlines Center.
The Vikings dropped to 8-4 overall and 3-1 in conference play, but have still won seven of their last nine games. The Seawolves improved to 11-1 overall and 3-1 in GNAC play. WWU, UAA, Central Washington and Seattle Pacific are all tied for 2nd in the conference standings behind undefeated Northwest Nazarene (12-0, 4-0).
Sophomore forward Kelsey Rogers (Bothell, WA/Lynnwood) led the Vikings with 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Rogers also tallied a team-high 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocked shots and 2 steals. She has led the Vikings in scoring in 8 of WWU’s 12 games this season.
Freshman forward Katrina Gimmaka (Everson, WA/Nooksack Valley) added 9 points off the bench on 4-for-6 shooting. Sophomore guard Emma Duff (Tumwater, WA/Black Hills) and senior guard Bobbi Westendorf (Auburn, WA/Kentridge/Tacoma CC) each had 8 points.
The Seawolves had three players reach double-figures in scoring, led by 17 points from GNAC Preseason Player of the Year Hannah Wandersee. Safiyyah Yasin added 16 points on 5-for-12 shooting (3-for-4 3FG) and Sydni Stallworth chipped in 10 points.
THE GAP WAS CLOSE
The Vikings trailed by 10 points heading into the final quarter at 51-41, but went on a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to 5 points at 53-48 with 8:09 remaining in the game. Freshman Mollie Olson hit a 3-pointer to cap the rally, but the Seawolves answered with a 10-0 run and out-scored the Vikings 15-2 the remainder of the way for the 18-point victory.
UP NEXT
The Vikings return home next week hosting Concordia on Thursday (Jan. 10) and Western Oregon on Saturday (Jan. 12) on WECU Court in Carver Gym, with both games featuring a 7 pm tip-off. Advanced tickets can be purchased by visiting WWUVikings.com/Tickets and the Carver Gym Box Office will open one hour prior to tip-off.
-- @WWUWBB --
