The Doug Lange Network 

October 22, 2018 

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BELLINGHAM, Wash – The Western Washington University women’s basketball team opens the 2018-19 preseason with an exhibition contest vs. Trinity Western University on Monday night in Carver Gym.

 

Tip-off for the exhibition game on WECU Court is set for 5 pm, with special $4 admission for all fans and free parking in the C lots on the WWU campus.

 

This is a non-counting game, with the outcome and statistics not counting towards the 2018-19 season record. It is the only exhibition contest the Vikings will play prior to opening the 2018-19 season Nov. 9-10 when WWU hosts the West Region Crossover Classic with Seattle Pacific, Humboldt State and Fresno Pacific visiting Bellingham.

 

“We have been working extremely hard during the preseason and through the first couple of official practices, with the goal of getting better each time we step on the court,” said head coach Carmen Dolfo, who begins her 28th season leading the Vikings. “Monday’s exhibition opener is another step for our team to keep improving and continue to get ready for the upcoming season. We look forward to getting into game competition and seeing where we are at.”

 

WWU returns four starters and seven letterwinners from last year’s squad that went 12-16 overall and 8-12 in the GNAC. The 11-player squad for 2018-19 includes one senior, three juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen. 

 

Notable returning players include 2017-18 GNAC Newcomer of the Year Dani Iwami (Seal Beach, CA/Los Alamitos/Hawai'i Pacific), who averaged 9.4 points and 4.0 assists per game last season.

 

Returning leading scorer Gracie Castaneda (Arlington, WA) averaged 10.6 points per game last season while starting 26 of 28 games. The sophomore guard averaged 10.5 points per game in GNAC play last season to rank in the top 25 in the conference.

 

Junior center Anna Schwecke (Evergreen, CO/Clear Creek) is WWU’s leading returning rebounder, ranking 5th in the conference averaging 6.9 rebounds per game in 2017-18 after transferring from Colorado-Colorado Springs.

 

Junior guard Lexie Bland (Ellensburg, WA) averaged 3.0 assists per game to rank 8th in the GNAC last season and is the Vikings most veteran player heading into the season with 53 career games played.

 

The GNAC is scheduled to announce its annual preseason coaches poll on Wednesday, October 24.

 

More information on the 2018-19 season, including a details schedule, roster and quick facts can be found online atWWUVikings.com/WBB and via social media on Twitter (@WWUBasketball), Instagram (@wwu.basketball) and Facebook (@WWUwomensbball).