Jan. 29, 2007

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BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

UPDATE: In a virtual three-way tie for first place in the league standings, the Western Washington University women's basketball team is on the road Thursday to meet arch-rival Central Washington in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest.

The Vikings, who are coming off a much-needed sweep of a three-game homestand, then return for three more contests on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium, meeting Alaska Anchorage on Feb. 8, Alaska Fairbanks on Feb. 10 and Western Oregon on Feb. 15.

Last week, Western notched three wins in four days, posting league victories over GNAC-leader Seattle Pacific, 60-58, on Jan. 24, and Saint Martin's, 70-44, on Jan. 27. Those were sandwiched around a non-league triumph over Dixie State UT, 61-51, on Jan. 26.

The Vikings, 6-5 on the road this season, are 8-0 at Carver Gym and have won 26 straight regular-season games on Haggen Court.

Western, the defending GNAC champion, is 14-5 overall and is tied for second in the league standings at 6-2 with Seattle U., just percentage points behind leader Seattle Pacific at 5-1.

Central, 6-0 at home, is 3-4 in league play and 13-5 overall after suffering back-to-back league road losses for the second time this season. The Wildcats had a nine-game winning streak in getting off to a 9-1 start.

In Western's narrow win over Seattle Pacific, neither team led by more than two points for the final 6:43 before sophomore guard India Soo scored the winning basket on a driving layup with 3.2 seconds remaining.

The Dixie State game also was tight, being tied at 43-43 with seven minutes left. But senior guard Mollie Stelmack scored four of her game-high 19 points as the Vikings went on a 14-4 run to break the contest open. Stelmack also had a game-high 16 points in the Saint Martin's victory.

Western shot 45.7 percent (21-of-46) from 3-point range in the three wins, while holding the opposition to an average of 51.0 points per game and 36.3 percent (58-of-160) field goal accuracy.

Stelmack, who has scored double figures in each of the last five games, continues to pace the Vikings in scoring (15.9 avg.), assists (3.7) and 3-point shooting (41.4 percent, 46-of-111). She is looking to become the first backcourt player to lead Western in scoring since Lori deKubber accomplished the feat for three straight years (1981-84) with a high of 13.8 in 1982-83.

Stelmack is second in the GNAC in 3-point makes (46, 2.4) and points, fourth in assists and fifth in 3-point shooting. She has scored 1,176 career points, including 567 in two seasons at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire.

Junior forward Krystal Robinson ranks second nationally and leads the GNAC in blocked shots (57, 3.0 avg.). She has had at least one block in every game this season and her career total of 155 is one short of third place among WWU career leaders.

Robinson has per-game averages of 11.6 points and 5.3 rebounds. She ranks fifth among league leaders in field goal shooting at 50.9 percent (89-of-175) and sixth in free throw accuracy at 80.8 percent (42-of-52).

Junior forward Liz McCarrell is averaging 11.7 points on team-best 51.2 percent (85-of-166) field goal shooting, which is fourth in the GNAC.

Four sophomores have been solid contributors. Center Claire Pallansch is averaging a team-leading 6.8 rebounds and scoring at a 7.1 per game clip, guard MacKenzie Flynn is averaging 5.7 points and has made a team-best 24-of-27 free throws (88.9 percent), forward Willow Cabe is averaging 7.1 points and 5.4 rebounds, and Soo leads the team and ranks third in the GNAC in steals (2.1).

Western leads the GNAC in field goal percentage 44.5 percent (471-of-1053), points per game (72.6), rebound margin (plus 5.2) and blocked shots (5.3).

UPCOMING GAMES:

Feb. 1 (Thu.) at Central Washington University*# (Ellensburg, WA), 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 8 (Thu.) UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE* (BELLINGHAM), 7 p.m.
Feb. 10 (Sat.) UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS*# (BELLINGHAM), 3 p.m.)
Feb. 15 (Thu.) WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY* (BELLINGHAM), 7 p.m.

Home games (all caps) on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium
#broadcast on KBAI Radio (930 AM) and via the internet at wwuvikings.com
*Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest

THREE-DOT NOTES: The Vikings have shot just 26.4 percent (29-of-110) from 3-point range in their five losses and 36.5 percent (80-of 219) in their 14 wins ... Western's 5.3 blocks per game, which ranks third nationally and leads the conference ... Junior guard Elyse Hartman, who averaged 5.5 points in 14 games this season, will undergo surgery on her left knee on Feb. 2 and miss the rest of the campaign ... Robinson has connected on 36 of her last 41 free throws (87.8 percent) over the last 11 games after hitting just 56.2 percent (36-of-64) in her career prior to that ... Stelmack has scored double figures in a team-high 17 games. Robinson and McCarrell have each had 11 double-figure point contests ... Stelmack could become the first backcourt player to lead the Vikings in scoring since Lori deKubber accomplished the feat three straight years (1981-84) with a high of 13.8 in 1982-83 ... Robinson has 155 career blocks, which ranks fourth among Western leaders (needs one more to move into third). She has had at least one block in every game this season, with a career-high tying seven in one contest (school record is nine) ... Western has won 26 straight regular-season home games.

Stelmack and McCarrell have each received GNAC Player of the Week honors this season ... McCarrell was named all-tourney at the Great Western Shootout ... Stelmack was MVP at the CCAA/GNAC Challenge Classic, and McCarrell also earned all-tourney honors. ... Flynn was named MVP at the WWU Lynda Goodrich Classic. Also receiving all-tourney recognition were Robinson and Stelmack. The Vikings are 19-1 at the Goodrich Classic, their only loss coming in the final game of the 2002 tourney ... Western has played in seven states this season. They are Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

The season-opening 77-62 loss to Mesa State CO was just the second debut setback in the last 12 years for the Vikings ... The 100-point effort against Northwest was the first for Western since early in the 2002-03 season (112 games) when it had back-to-back triple-digit contests. It was the 21st time in school history that the Vikings had scored 100 points, with the school record being 126 at Sheldon Jackson AK during the 1987-88 campaign ... Western graduated four starters from last year's 27-2 squad that won the GNAC championship with a perfect 18-0 record and reached the semifinals of the NCAA Division II West Regional ... The Vikings have made nine straight national appearances and are working on a similar string of 20-win seasons.

HOME COURT DOMINANCE: The Vikings are 368-59 (86.2 percent) in this their 35th year at Carver Gym. Western, which is 8-0 on Haggen Court this season, has reached double-digit victories at home in each of the last nine seasons. Western was 14-1 in 2005-06, 12-1 in 2004-05, 11-2 in 2003-04, 12-2 in 2002-03, 13-1 in 2001-02, 13-1 in 2000-01, 12-0 in 1999-2000, 13-2 in 1998-99 and 10-4 in 1997-98.

COACH DOLFO: Carmen Dolfo is in her 16th year as head coach at Western. She has a 343-117 (74.6 percent) record. Entering this season, Dolfo ranked 12th among active NCAA II coaches in winning percentage and 29th in victories. Dolfo's teams have reached post-season play 15 times and have won 20 or more games 13 times. She was named GNAC Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2006, Northwest small college Coach of the Year in 2000 and Pacific Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996. Dolfo was the top Viking assistant for four seasons (95-28, 77.2) and earned All-America honors as a player at Western.

THE TRADITION CONTINUES: With 775 victories in its 36-year history, Western is one of just four NCAA Division II schools that has reached the 750 milestone and 15 nationally in all NCAA divisions ... The Vikings have made 27 straight post-season appearances and 33 overall, reaching nationals 16 times, including one semifinal and three quarterfinal finishes ... They also have had 27 20-win seasons and are working on a string of nine straight ... Western has had 20 winning streaks of 10 or more games with its longest being 20, and its longest losing streak is just four games ... Former Western coach Lynda Goodrich, now the Vikings' director of athletics, is a member of the NAIA National Hall of Fame. She coached Western for 19 seasons, winning more than 400 games (411-124, 76.7 percent). Another Viking NAIA Hall of Famer is forward Jo Metzger (1977-81), who earned first-team All-American honors in 1980 and 1981 ... Western has had 13 first, second or third-team All-Americans.

RADIO BROADCASTS: Selected Western games are being broadcast this season on KBAI Radio (930 AM) with Doug Lange handling the play-by-play, and either Mark Scholten, Jason Stiles or Ervin Kuehbler providing the color commentary. They also can be heard on the internet at www.wwuvikings.com.

ON THE WEB: For up-to-date statistics, box scores of every game, records, stories, etc., see the Western Athletic web page at www.wwuvikings.com. Up-to-date league standings and statistics can be found on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web page at www.gnacsports.com.

PROBABLE WESTERN STARTERS & TOP RESERVES:

F Liz McCarrell, 5-11, **Jr., Ferndale, WA/Ferndale
F Krystal Robinson, 6-2, **Jr., Kent, WA/Kentridge
C Claire Pallansch, 6-1, *So., Redmond, WA/Redmond/Oregon State
G Mollie Stelmack, 5-11,*Sr., New Westminster, BC/Franklin Pierce NH
G MacKenzie Flynn, 5-5, So.-TR, Redmond, WA/Redmond/Idaho

G India Soo, 5-6, So.-TR, Kamuela, HI/Kamehameha/Idaho State
F Willow Cabe, 6-1, *So., McCleary, WA/Elma
F Sarah Schramm, 6-0, So., Chelan, WA/Chelan
*letters

OPPONENT SKETCHES:

CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: The Wildcats (13-5 overall, 3-4 GNAC, 6-0 home, 7-5 road), who last week lost back-to-back league road games for the second time this season, tied for fifth in the GNAC last year (15-11, 9-9) and were picked to place second in the preseason coaches poll. Four starters return for coach Jeff Whitney (10th year, 162-96). Leading that group is 6-3 senior center Laura Wright (12.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 54.8 FG Pct.-1st GNAC), who received all-GNAC honorable mention after being a second-team pick the previous season. Completing that quartet are 5-9 junior forward Hanna Hull (13.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 5-9 senior forward Ashley Blake (3.8 ppg) and 5-8 sophomore guard Ashley Fenimore (5.2 ppg, 3.2 apg). Another top returnee is 5-9 senior guard Elyse Mengarelli (12.4 ppg). A talented newcomer is 5-10 senior forward Brandie Bounds (10.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg), who sat out last season after playing three years at NCAA I Eastern Washington University. Western holds a 71-9 series advantage, winning the last seven meetings.

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE: The Seawolves (14-4 overall, 3-4 GNAC, 10-0 home, 4-4 road, Feb. 1 host Western Oregon, Feb. 3 host Saint Martin's), who have lost three straight games after a 14-1 start that began with 12 wins, finished seventh (13-14, 6-12) in the GNAC last year and were picked to place fifth in the preseason coaches poll. UAA is led by 6-2 sophomore center Rebecca Kielpinski (14.2 ppg-4th GNAC, 10.4 rpg-1st GNAC, 2.5 bpg-2nd GNAC, 51.5 FG Pct.-3rd GNAC). She was the GNAC Freshman of the Year in 2005-06, averaging 19.4 points and league-best 9.4 rebounds, being named second-team all-West Region and a freshman All-American by Women's Division II Bulletin. Also back for first-year coach Tim Moser, who accumulated more than 300 victories in eight years coaching both men and women at Otero (Colo.) JC, are 6-1 senior forward Tenecia Lockard (6.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and 5-9 sophomore guard Tristan Burnett (4.4 ppg), who suffered a season-ending broken hand 15 games into last season. Three standout transfers are 5-10 senior forward Jayci Stone (11.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg), who played at New Mexico State University after earning all-region honors at Colby (Kan.) CC; 6-0 junior forward Maria Nilsson (Skovde, Sweden, 5.9 ppg) from Northwest (Neb.) CC and 5-9 junior guard Jennifer Salazar (8.2 ppg) from Garden City CC. UAA leads the GNAC in 3-point shooting at 33.3 percent (123-of-369). Western has won 22 of 25 series meetings, having a five-game series winning streak snapped in a 63-60 overtime loss at Anchorage on Jan. 13.

UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS: The Nanooks (7-11 overall, 2-5 GNAC, 5-5 home, 2-6 road, Feb. 1 host Saint Martin's, Feb. 3 host Western Oregon, Feb. 8 at Seattle U.), who have won their last two games after dropping nine of 10, finished ninth (7-19, 4-14) in the GNAC last year and were picked to place seventh in the preseason coaches poll. UAF is led by two returning honorable mention GNAC all-stars, 5-11 junior guard Kari Reabold (15.9 ppg-3rd GNAC, 7.4 rpg-5th GNAC) and 5-8 sophomore guard Sheena Brown (11.7 ppg). Also back for coach Lynne Andrew (4th year, 37-60) are 5-8 sophomore guard Cristina Bruketta (8.4 ppg) and 6-0 senior forward Karen Rabung (6.7 ppg). A top newcomer is 6-0 freshman forward Caitlyn Rohrbach (9.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Western holds a 27-4 series advantage, winning the last five meetings, including a 79-73 decision at Fairbanks on Jan. 11.

GAME SUMMARIES:

Jan. 24 - WESTERN 60, Seattle Pacific 58 at Bellingham Soo hit a driving layup with 3.2 seconds left, lifting Western to a 60-58 victory over conference-leading Seattle Pacific in a GNAC game at Carver Gym. Stelmack had a game-high 18 points for the Vikings, who pulled a reversal of sorts with the triumph, defeating the top team in the GNAC standings just five days after falling to the bottom team, Western Oregon. Seattle Pacific fell to 11-5 overall and 5-1 in the GNAC. Forward Rachel Strand led the Falcons, who had a five-game winning streak snapped, with 14 points, and center Kelsey Hill added 12 points and six rebounds, hitting 6-of-7 shots from the field. Neither team led by more than two points in the final 6:43 of the game and the score was tied four times in that stretch, the final one when Seattle Pacific guard Jackie Hollands hit a jumper from the wing to even the score at 58-58 with 1:15 left. Each team missed possible go-ahead shots on the following possessions, and Western got the ball with 17 seconds to go. The Vikings did not call a time out and Soo eventually received a pass just outside the free throw line and drove the left side of the lane for the game-winner. Seattle Pacific did not get off a shot on its final possession. Pallansch had 11 points for Western, which had a 35-28 advantage in rebounds, helping it to overcome 23 turnovers. Seattle Pacific led much of the first half, opening up a nine-point lead, 21-12, midway through the period. But Western rallied to tie the game at 25-25 on a 3-pointer by Soo with 4:57 left, and held a 33-31 lead at halftime. The Vikings shot 50.0 percent (11-of-22) from the field in the second half and 43.1 percent (22-of-51) for the game, making 6-of-11 3-pointers. Seattle Pacific shot 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the floor. Soo finished with seven points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.

Jan. 26 - WESTERN 61, Dixie State 51 at Bellingham Stelmack scored 15 of her team-high 19 points in the second half as Western defeated Dixie State, 61-51, in a non-league game at Carver Gym. McCarrell added 14 points for the Vikings. Dixie State, in its first year as a NCAA II school after moving from junior college status, fell to 11-8. Forward Jessica Carver had game-highs of 20 points and seven rebounds for the Rebels, and guard Liz Lewis added 16 points. The game was tied at 43-43 with seven minutes left after a 3-pointer by Lewis. But the Vikings went on a 14-4 run, with McCarrell scoring five of the points and Stelmack four, to take a 57-47 lead with 2:56 to play. Dixie State never got closer than eight points after that. Western shot 50.0 percent (15-of-30) from the field in the second half and committed just five turnovers after having 16 in the first half. The Vikings led by as much as eight points in the opening half and were up by seven, 24-17, with 2:43 to play, but the Rebels ran off the final seven points of the period and the score was tied, 24-24, at halftime.

Jan. 27 WESTERN 70, Saint Martin's 44 at Bellingham Stelmack scored a game-high 16 points and Cabe came off the bench with 15 points and eight rebounds as Western rolled to a 70-44 victory over Saint Martin's in a GNAC contest at Carver Gym. Saint Martin's fell to 5-13 overall and 1-6 in conference play with its sixth straight loss. The Saints, who shot just 28.3 percent (15-of-53) from the field, did not have a double-figure scorer. Forward Amber Harmon led Saint Martin's with eight points. Western, which did not trail in the contest, had all 10 of its players score. Soo had 10 points on 4-of-5 field goal shooting and handed out five assists. The Vikings had a 48-36 rebound advantage with Pallansch grabbing a game-high 11 boards. Robinson (Jr., Kent/Kentridge) added nine rebounds, nine points and four blocked shots. Western gave up just one field goal in the first six minutes as it went out to a 14-3 lead, Flynn hitting two 3-pointers. The Vikings held a 37-19 lead at halftime and their biggest advantage was 29 points, 60-31, with 6:30 remaining in the game. Western shot just 40.3 percent (27-of-67) from the field, but hit 7-of-16 3-pointers (43.8 percent) with Stelmack making three and Soo and Flynn two each.