Nov. 5, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Western Washington University women's basketball team travels to Seattle University on Thursday (6:30 p.m.) for an exhibition game at Connolly Center.

The Vikings defeated a spirited alumni squad, 66-55, last Saturday. Guard Liz McCarrell (Sr., Ferndale) had 12 points and 6-foot-1 forward Jessica Summers (Sr., Blaine) added 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

McCarrell missed last season because of a sprained arch in her right foot that required surgery after earning second-team Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-star honors in 2006-07. Summers is a transfer from University of Idaho.

Western was devastated by injuries last year as it finished 9-21. That snapped the Vikings' string of NCAA Division II national championship appearances at nine.

Two top returnees from that squad are senior center Claire Pallansch (Redmond) and sophomore guard Amanda Dunbar (Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck). Pallansch was a second-team GNAC all-star, averaging 12.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, and Dunbar averaged 14.1 points to earn GNAC Freshman of the Year honors.

Seattle, which had been a GNAC member, is in its first year of making the transition to Division I.