Dec. 13, 2006

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - It's been 26 years since a Western Washington University women's basketball player began a season with a scoring blitz like guard Mollie Stelmack's.

The 5-foot-11 senior from New Westminster, B.C., is averaging 19.9 points after seven games, helping the nationally No.12-ranked Vikings to a 6-1 record.

"Things are definitely working and it feels good," said Stelmack. "I feel as though I'm adjusting to my role and I'm enjoying it.

"If everything is flowing, it's easy to score. I have a great team. I don't feel any pressure at all. I'm just having fun."

The last Western player to average 20 points in a season was two-time All-America forward Jo Metzger, who scored at a school-record 21.7 clip during the 1980-81 campaign.

"She (Stelmack) came into this year knowing that with all the new faces that she had to step up," said Western coach Carmen Dolfo (16th year), who graduated four starters from last year's 27-2 team. "I always thought that Mollie would be a great player, but to me the bonus is that she's also become a great leader for us."

Adjusting to the leadership role was actually tougher for Stelmack than taking on more of the scoring load.

"That was actually the hardest part for me," Stelmack admitted. "It may not seem like it, but I'm really shy and having to step into that role was difficult for me."

Only two players in the Vikings' storied history have averaged 20 points in a season - Metzger and forward Joni Slagle (20.1) in 1976-77.

"It's going to be interesting because they're going to start watching her more," said Dolfo. "The neat thing is that Mollie can shoot outside and drive, so it makes it hard to guard her because if you get too tight, she can definitely take the ball to the hole."

The last time a guard led Western in scoring was when Lori deKubber accomplished it three straight seasons from 1981-84 with a high of 13.8 in 1982-83. The only other backcourt players to have been season point leaders for the Vikings were Charmon Odle, who averaged 14.7 in 1974-75, and Wendy Hawley, who averaged 12.6 in 1973-74.

"Carmen has us shooting 100 shots a day and most of mine are threes, since that's what I like to do," Stelmack said. "So, I'm feeling more comfortable out there.

"And I've been working on my driving because if the three isn't there, I'm going to have to do something else. I can't just can't live and die on threes."

Stelmack tops the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in scoring, while being second among league leaders in assists (4.1) and third in steals (3.7). She also ranks among the top three conference leaders in four other categories, being first in 3-point makes per game (3.0), second in 3-point percentage (52.5, 21-of-40) and minutes played (31.9) and third in field goal shooting (53.9, 48-of-89).

"It doesn't feel like she's shooting too much," Dolfo said. "She's not forcing things, she's just letting it happen within the offense and her teammates are looking for her."

Named MVP at the CCAA/GNAC Challenge Classic, Stelmack also was an all-tourney pick at the WWU Lynda Goodrich Classic. She has scored double figures in all seven games, five times hitting 20 or more. Included have been career-high efforts of 26 points against Chadron State NE, eight assists versus Northwest and seven steals versus Cal State Stanislaus.

In the Vikings' three wins during the week of Dec. 3-9, Stelmack averaged 22.3 points to earn GNAC Player of the Week honors, shooting 64.0 percent (25-of-40) from the floor and 66.7 percent (12-of-18) from 3-point range.

Stelmack was the GNAC Newcomer of the Year last season, averaging 10.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists after transferring from Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire where she played two years.

"Western is a great school," said Stelmack, who is majoring in English. "I've totally adjusted and I love it ... I love the coaches, they're amazing."

Stelmack started for Western as a junior, helping the Vikings take the GNAC title with a perfect 18-0 record and reach the NCAA II West Regional semifinals. The move to the first five came after an 18-point, 11-rebound, seven-assist effort in a 94-81 win over No.11 Chico State that earned her MVP honors at the GNAC/CCAA Challenge Classic.

Stelmack starred in the Canadian high school ranks. She was a two-time provincial all-star at New Westminster Secondary School, averaging 25.0 points per game as a senior.

At Franklin Pierce, she started 17 games as a freshman and all 28 as a sophomore. That second season, she averaged 13.6 points and set a school record with 76 3-point makes, earning second-team all-league honors.

But Stelmack has always been more than just a shoot first, ask questions later gunner, as her assist numbers show.

"If the shot's there, I'm going to take it," she said. "But it depends on what we need that game. If we need the posts to score, then I'll get them the ball, but if the outside's open. I'll just take what the defense gives me."